Efficacy of Melatonin in prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis: A randomized clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate whether melatonin could effectively prevent radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Results Summary
Melatonin administration (20 mg) alongside conventional treatment reduced severe oral mucositis incidence (5% vs. 30% in controls), decreased pain scores, and preserved salivary antioxidant capacity compared to controls.
Population
Forty head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at a university hospital in Egypt.
Effective Dosage
20 mg melatonin (frequency not specified).
Duration
Six weeks (assessed at three and six weeks).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin (20 mg) along with conventional treatment | decrease | severe oral mucositis development | head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy | - | reduced severe oral mucositis development | #1 |
melatonin (20 mg) along with conventional treatment | decrease | pain scores | head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy | - | aided in decreasing pain | #2 |
melatonin (20 mg) along with conventional treatment | decrease | total antioxidant capacity (TAC) | head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy | - | hindering the reduction of TAC | #3 |
conventional treatment (control group) | increase | oral mucositis severity | head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy | 30% | more severity reported | #4 |
melatonin (20 mg) along with conventional treatment | decrease | oral mucositis severity | head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy | 5% | less severity reported | #5 |
radiotherapy | decrease | total antioxidant capacity (TAC) | head and neck cancer patients | - | resulting in reduction of TAC | #6 |
OBJECTIVES: Evaluating the effectiveness of melatonin in prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted on forty head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy at the Department of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria University, Egypt. Patients were assigned equally to either control group who received conventional treatment or test group who received 20 mg of melatonin along with the conventional treatment. All patients were clinically evaluated for oral mucositis severity and pain at three and six weeks after the start of radiotherapy. Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients' saliva samples was assessed at the start of radiotherapy and six weeks later. RESULTS: 92.5% of all patients have experienced oral mucositis with more severity reported in the control group (30%) compared with the test group (5%). Mean pain scores decreased significantly, in the second assessment, in test group rather than the controls. TAC values showed a significant difference between the test and controls with a significant decrease in TAC in the control group. CONCLUSION: The administration of melatonin with conventional treatment has reduced severe oral mucositis development. It aided in decreasing pain and hindering the reduction of TAC resulting from radiotherapy among the test group compared with controls.