Antioxidant treatments in patients with oral submucous fibrosis: A systematic review

Abstract

IntroductionOral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a well‐known precancerous oral lesion, characterized by scarring, tissue fibrosis, and premalignant lesions. The goal of clinical treatment is to reduce inflammation and improve patients' quality of life by enhancing mouth opening among others. Antioxidant treatment has shown promising results in inducing regression of lesions and preventing OSMF in high‐risk individuals. This study investigates the effectiveness of various antioxidant agents against OSMF.Materials and MethodsThe study followed PRISMA guidelines and searched three scientific databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, using specific algorithms related to “antioxidant treatment,” “burning sensation,” and “mouth opening.” The quality assessment of controlled clinical studies adhered to Cochrane guidelines.ResultsThe analysis included 19 clinical trials comparing different treatments, including various antioxidants. Aloe vera, curcumin, and lycopene, among others, showed positive outcomes in treating OSMF by improving burning sensation, mouth opening, tongue protrusion, and cheek flexibility.ConclusionAntioxidant therapies are found to be effective in treating OSMF, even when compared to conventional treatments such as corticosteroids. The study highlights the need for further research and standardization of clinical protocols.

A scientometric study on research trends and characteristics of oral submucous fibrosis

“…The keywords myofibroblast, alpha smooth muscle actin, microRNA, long untranslated RNA, and protein p53 were more common researched by other scholars. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 Risk factors of smokeless tobacco and gutkha were more frequently mentioned by Indian scholars, the Indian population consumes the areca nut, mainly in a form of betel quid with or without tobacco and commercial products e.g. gutkha since long time.…”