What do systematic reviews say?

Zinc sulphate vs placebo

Zinc sulphate showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.88 [0.69, 1.11]
  1 study · 27 participants
  GRADE not reported

Amifostine vs placebo/no treatment

Amifostine probably leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo/no treatment (moderate certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.95 [0.91, 0.99]
  3 studies · 430 participants
  Moderate

Benzydamine vs placebo

Benzydamine led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.67 [0.47, 0.97]
  1 study · 36 participants
  GRADE not reported

Traumeel vs placebo

Traumeel showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.71 [0.49, 1.05]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

Prednisone vs placebo

Prednisone showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.03 [0.85, 1.24]
  1 study · 66 participants
  GRADE not reported

Shenqi-fanghou vs no treatment

Shenqi-fanghou showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.9 [0.8, 1]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported

Propantheline vs placebo

Propantheline showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.4 [0.12, 1.31]
  1 study · 12 participants
  GRADE not reported

GM-CSF vs placebo/no treatment

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  no estimate extracted
  8 studies
  GRADE not reported

Honey vs no treatment

Honey led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no treatment; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.7 [0.56, 0.88]
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

Antibiotic pastille or paste (PTA) vs placebo

Antibiotic pastille or paste (PTA) led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.87 [0.78, 0.96]
  2 studies · 356 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chewing gum vs No chewing gum

Chewing gum showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no chewing gum; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.87 [0.71, 1.07]
  1 study · 140 participants
  GRADE not reported

Cryotherapy (ice chips) 30 minutes vs Cryotherapy (ice chips) 60 minutes

Cryotherapy (ice chips) 30 minutes showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with cryotherapy (ice chips) 60 minutes; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.89 [0.62, 1.29]
  1 study · 178 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral care protocol vs usual care or no treatment

Oral care protocol led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no treatment/usual care; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.62 [0.43, 0.91]
  1 study · 30 participants
  GRADE not reported

Oral cryotherapy (ice chips, ice-cold water, ice cubes or crushed ice held in the mouth during cancer treatment) vs no treatment

Cryotherapy (ice chips) may leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with no treatment (low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.74 [0.57, 0.95]
  5 studies · 472 participants
  Low

Keratinocyte GF vs placebo

Keratinocyte GF may leads to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.82 [0.71, 0.94]
  2 studies · 160 participants
  Low

Acyclovir vs placebo

Acyclovir showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.33 [0.85, 2.08]
  1 study · 57 participants
  GRADE not reported

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) vs placebo

Superoxide dismutase showed no clear difference in oral mucositis (any severity) compared with placebo; GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 1.17 [0.78, 1.75]
  1 study · 159 participants
  GRADE not reported

Chinese herbal medicines vs Control (Dobell's solution)

Chinese herbs (medicine) led to lower oral mucositis (any severity) compared with control (Dobell's solution); GRADE not reported.

• Interventions for preventing oral mucositis for patients with cancer receiving treatment 2011 · Cochrane All outcomes

  Median 28 days
  RR 0.44 [0.2, 0.95]
  1 study · 147 participants
  GRADE not reported