Hello, Jack.

Yes, pabb is right. According to jccgf who posts mostly on this subject, gluten intolerance my exist without GI symptoms.

http://sites.google.com/site/jccglut...sceliacdisease

Also vegetarians can become low in zinc, which impairs healing.
This is because the phytates in vegetables complex zinc in the GI tract and prevent its absorption.

Gluten intolerant patients also develop malabsorption of nutrients, and especially B12 can be affected.
Getting blood tests for this may be revealing for you. Your result should be 400 or higher. Do not accept "normal", and get your actual result because lab ranges in US are antequated, and low.

While you are at it getting that blood work, get your Vit D tested too. Many in US are low in this nutrient as well. Your target for this is 50-60ng/ml.

Inflammation at the corners of the mouth is called:
Angular cheilitis
Here is an explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_cheilitis

Males are less likely than females to have low iron. But if you take drugs that lower stomach acid, like Zantac, Prilosec, etc you can lower absorption of iron from food. Vegetarians may not eat iron rich foods as well. These drugs also impair
zinc, magnesium, calcium, folic acid, B12 absorption as well.