Table 2. Comparison of the mean of the studied parameters in patients and controls .
| Index | Group | Number | Mean ± SD | p -value | Normal range |
| Serum iron (mg/dL ) | Case | 20 | 82.75 ± 22.971 | 0.29 | 60‒160 |
| Control | 20 | 92.95 ± 36.176 | |||
| Serum zinc (m g/dL ) | Case | 20 | 97.35 ± 13.51 | 0.11 | 70‒120 |
| Control | 20 | 106.70 ± 22.188 | |||
| Serum vitamin B 12 (pg/mL ) | Case | 20 | 227.40 ± 60.899 | 0.83 | 200‒900 |
| Control | 20 | 232.30 ± 85.483 | |||
| Saliva iron (ppm ) | Case | 20 | 0.157 ± 0.081 | 0.27 | 0.14‒0.41 |
| Control | 20 | 0.177 ± 0.096 | |||
| Sali va zinc (ppm ) | Case | 20 | 0.136 ± 0.070 | 0.02 | 0.017‒0.478 |
| Control | 20 | 0.233 ± 0.113 | |||
| Saliva vitamin B 12 (ppm ) | Case | 20 | 0.031 ± 0.021 | 0.25 | 0.02‒0.085 |
| Control | 20 | 0.038 ± 0.016 |