Honey on oral mucositis: A Randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiotherapy
• Oral Medicine

Background:

• Head and neck cancers are primarily managed with radiotherapy and surgery.
• Radiation therapy for head and neck cancers directly exposes the oral cavity to high doses of radiation.
• Oral mucositis is a distressing side effect of radiation therapy in the oral cavity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of topical natural honey application on oral mucositis during radiation therapy.
• To evaluate honey's efficacy in managing radiation-induced oral mucositis.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind Randomized Control Trial was conducted with 28 patients.
• Patients received either 15ml of natural honey or 15ml of plain water to apply on their oral mucosa.
• Oral mucosa assessments were performed after every 5 doses of radiation therapy using the RTOG scale.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference in oral mucositis severity was observed between groups in weeks 4, 5, and 6 (p<0.01).
• In the control group, 64.28% of participants developed grade III oral mucositis.
• Only 7.14% of participants in the experimental group (honey application) developed grade III oral mucositis.

Conclusions:

• Topical application of natural honey is effective in managing oral mucositis.
• Honey demonstrates significant therapeutic benefits for patients with head and neck cancers undergoing external beam radiation therapy.
• Natural honey presents a viable, effective intervention for mitigating radiation-induced oral mucositis.