Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

11 questions · 14 findings · 2 reviews · Oral medicine and oral cancer

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No studies found 6 · 42.9%GRADE not reported 2 · 14.3%Very low 1 · 7.1%Low 5 · 35.7%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Acupuncture vs sham control

Taste discrimination improvement · Patients with idiopathic dysgeusia and hypogeusia

It is very uncertain whether acupuncture changes taste discrimination improvement compared with sham control (deactivated laser sham acupuncture) (very low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
8 weeks
MD 2.80 [-1.18, 6.78]
1 study · 37 participants
Very low
Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Results: There were no data on taste acuity improvement in the included acupuncture trial (Brandt 2008).
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham control

Health‐related quality of life · Patients with idiopathic dysgeusia and hypogeusia

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Results (health-related quality of life): Brandt 2008 assessed HRQoL in dysgeusia patients and reported significant improvement in psychological symptoms in the acupuncture group and increased quality of life in both…
1 study
GRADE not reported

Acupuncture vs sham control

Adverse events · Patients with idiopathic dysgeusia and hypogeusia

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Results: The acupuncture trial (Brandt 2008) did not give any data on adverse events in either group.
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Oral health assessment · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Duration of effectiveness · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

Acupuncture may leads to higher unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
12 months (1 year follow-up)
MD 0.06 [0.01, 0.11]
2 studies · 54 participants
Low
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
MD 0.02 [0, 0.04]
3 studies · 71 participants
Low

Acupuncture vs sham

Stimulated whole saliva (SWS) · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

Acupuncture may leads to higher stimulated whole saliva (SWS) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

2 findings from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
12 months (1 year follow-up)
MD 0.28 [0.09, 0.47]
2 studies · 54 participants
Low
Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
MD 0.19 [0.07, 0.31]
3 studies · 71 participants
Low

Acupuncture vs sham

Quality of life · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Dry mouth (xerostomia) · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

Acupuncture showed no clear difference in dry mouth (mouth dryness, different scales) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
SMD -0.34 [-0.81, 0.14]
2 studies · 70 participants
Low

Acupuncture vs sham

Patient satisfaction with treatment · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
no estimate extracted
0 studies
No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Adverse events · Adults with dry mouth due to radiotherapy (head and neck cancer) or Sjogren's Syndrome

1 finding from 1 review

Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
Acupuncture was associated with more adverse effects (tiny bruises and tiredness, mild and temporary); List 1998 noted significant eye discomfort; Pfister 2010 reported temporary increases in pain, minor bruising or…
4 studies
GRADE not reported