Burning Tongue or Mouth Syndrome Due to Magnesium Deficiency?

Patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) have two major findings: one, burning sensations in their mouth and two, no anatomical changes present in their mouth to relate to this burning.

Dr. Henkin and colleagues at the Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders have clinically distinguished two major groups of patients with BMS. One group has burning limited only to their tongue – called GLOSSOPYROSIS. The other group has burning in their entire mouth, including their tongue, lips, palette, gums and pharynx – called OROPYROSIS. They have recently been able to distinguish these two patient groups biochemically.

Patients with GLOSSOPYROSIS have lower levels of magnesium in their red blood cells (erythrocytes) than do patients with OROPYROSIS or normal subjects.

Patients with GLOSSOPYROSIS have lower levels of magnesium in their parotid saliva than do patients with OROPYROSIS or normal subjects.

However, serum levels of magnesium and serum erythrocyte and saliva levels of calcium are similar in patients with GLOSSOPYROSIS, OROPYROSIS or in normal subjects.

These results suggest that patients with GLOSSOPYROSIS are magnesium deficient.

These findings does suggest magnesium supplementation to reverse the magnesium deficiency may be of benefit in patients with GLOSSOPYROSIS.

Courtesy of Dr. Robert Henkin of the Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders.

Reference:
Biochemical differences in parotid saliva distinguish patients with glossopyrosis from those with oropyrosis: Are there also neurochemical differences? The FASEB Journal. 2011;25:857.4

Chronic Hives Due to Vitamin D Deficiency

It seems that there is more and more research being published indicating that vitamin D deficiency leads to allergy exacerbation (and by supplementation, the severity can be reduced). Particularly problematic given so many people are vitamin D deficient as a possible byproduct of working indoors for so many of us (including physicians).

The most recent research out of Nebraska suggests that chronic urticaria in adults may be due to reduced vitamin D levels. In the small study, researchers compared 25 patients with chronic hives to 25 patients with nasal allergies. Researchers found patients with hives had significantly reduced levels of vitamin D, with nearly half of them considered to be vitamin D deficient.


References:
Reduced vitamin D levels in adult subjects with chronic urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Aug;126(2):413; author reply 413-4.

Low vitamin D status despite abundant sun exposure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jun;92(6):2130-5. Epub 2007 Apr 10.

Serum vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in the Childhood Asthma Management Program study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jul;126(1):52-8.e5. Epub 2010 Jun 9.

Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic diseases. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2010 Aug;30(3):397-409.

Serum vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in the Childhood Asthma Management Program study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jul;126(1):52-8.e5. Epub 2010 Jun 9.

Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic diseases. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2010 Aug;30(3):397-409.

Vitamin D May Treat Or Prevent Allergies!

Vitamin D is being blamed for a great many deal of human illnesses including rickets, depression, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, certain cancers, osteoporosis, heart disease, etc.

We might as well add allergies to the list...

Researchers have found that vitamin D may be an effective therapeutic agent to treat or prevent allergies! Low vitamin D levels was found to heighten Th2 reactivity which drives allergy response.

The evidence is compelling enough that it would not hurt to take Vitamin D3 2000 units daily if you have bad allergies!

References:
Serum vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in the Childhood Asthma Management Program study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jul;126(1):52-8.e5. Epub 2010 Jun 9.

Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic diseases. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2010 Aug;30(3):397-409.