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© 2023. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Introduction Anti-carcinoma therapies have various side effects, including mucositis; mucositis may be developed in up to 80% of cancer patients.1,2 In this regard, the diversity and population of oral microflora, as well as subjects' diets play a crucial role.3 Mucositis could appear as painful oral ulcers with potential gastrointestinal complications, such as diarrhea and nausea.3 Almost all cancer patients who undergo bone marrow transplant or myeloablative therapy are at risk for oral mucositis.4 As an unwanted complication of anticancer therapy, mucositis may lead to exacerbation of symptoms, especially in young patients with depression, infection, and pain.5 Several factors at the level of submucosa and epithelium contribute to the formation of oral mucositis.6 Although there is no specific treatment for oral mucositis, a number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies are available to suppress its development.7 Low energy laser is one of these strategies.8 Recent evidence demonstrates the promising effect of natural agents, including probiotics in healing oral mucositis lesions.9,10 Probiotics are known to enhance the functions of gastrointestinal tract and immune system. Among probiotics, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium axe the most common bacteria,11 and Saccharomyces boulardii is the best-known yeast.12 Beneficial roles of probiotics have been reported in a number of disorders, including various types of diarrhea, H. pylori inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome, gluten intolerance, gastrointestinal cancer, and mucositis.13 Furthermore, probiotics may have psychological protective effects, reducing the risk for the development of depression, perceived stress, and anxiety14 Benefits of probiotics in a rat model of chemotherapy-induced mucositis, and intestinal injuries have been reported.15 Lactobacillus reuteri is known to be a beneficial probiotic for peri-implant mucositis and Lactobacillus brevis CD2 is an effective species of probiotics for inhibiting chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.3 Probiotics may lead to healing of oral mucositis by improving the immune system function.16 Also, they may increase the hosts defence mechanisms to overcome Streptococcus mutans by increasing the synthesis of immunoglobulins.17 Even though there has been a lot of attention to probiotics as adjuvant therapy for oral mucositis, the current evidence is not convincing.3 In this review, we have critically evaluated current literature on the benefits of probiotics in the management of oral mucositis along with their potential mechanisms of action. Limited studies have reported benefits of steroids against mTOR-induced oral ulcers.23 Animal studies also reported that induction of mucositis was associated with changes in inflammatory pathways and nitric oxide metabolism.24 Available literature suggests that the transcription factor NF-kB plays a crucial role in the formation of mucositis.25 This may result in increasing cyclooxygenase-2 activity, leading to accumulation of submucosal fibroblasts and increased prostaglandin production. Management of oral mucositis Despite advances in medical therapy, our knowledge in the area of prevention and treatment of drug-induced mucositis is very limited.26 Washing the oral cavity with saline associated with the use of soda bicarbonate, benzydamine, and low-degree laser are commonly recommended for the prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis.27 Benzydamine hydrochloride (BZD) has multiple biological functions that can interfere with the processes of oral mucositis formation.2 It has been reported that BZD consumption could cause an increment in epithelial cell proliferation and a decrement in the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, like IL-1B and TNF-a.28 Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may prevent the development of mucositis or reduce its severity, especially in younger patients.8 Co-administration of photochemotherapy and LLLT may result in synergic beneficial effects on oral mucositis status.29 Photodynamic therapy could be recommended for the treatment of mucositis in children and younger patients.30 Another method of treatment is using 0.5% methylene blue for washing the oral cavity.

Details

Title
Probiotics for the Management of Oral Mucositis: An Interpretive Review of Current Evidence
Author
Fallah, Maryam 1 ; Amin, Negin 1 ; Moghadasian, Mohammed H 2 ; Jafarnejad, Sadegh 1 

 Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran 
 Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences and the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada 
Pages
269-274
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
ISSN
22285881
e-ISSN
22517308
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2815185782
Copyright
© 2023. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.