Use of topical Vitamin E in oral mucositis in patients undergoing oncology treatment. Scoping review

TL;DR

This review explores whether applying vitamin E topically can help reduce oral mucositis, a common side effect in cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Contribution

The study provides a scoping review of clinical trials on topical vitamin E for oral mucositis in cancer patients.

Findings

Six out of seven studies showed improved healing and reduced symptom severity with topical vitamin E.

Topical vitamin E may shorten the duration of oral mucositis in both pediatric and adult patients.

No standardized protocol exists for dosage or application method of vitamin E in this context.

Abstract

Oral mucositis (OM) refers to lesions characterized by erythema and ulceration of the oral mucosa, commonly observed in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT) and/or radiotherapy (RT). Currently, there is no specific therapy supported by robust scientific evidence for the treatment of OM-related lesions. However, the literature suggests that antioxidants such as vitamin E may help prevent oxidative cellular damage and limit tissue injury caused by free radicals, potentially reducing the severity of OM during cancer treatment. This review aims to analyze the existing literature on the use of topical vitamin E and its effects on oral mucositis lesions induced by cancer therapy.

This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in Web of Science (WOS), PubMed, and Scopus databases using the keywords: "vitamin E", "oral mucositis", "chemotherapy", and "radiotherapy". Studies published between 1990 and 2025 were considered for inclusion.

A total of 167 articles were identified. After screening and eligibility assessment, 7 clinical trials were included in the review 4 involving pediatric populations and 3 involving adults. Six of the studies reported favorable outcomes in the vitamin E group compared to placebo, including improved healing, reduced symptom severity, and shorter duration of oral mucositis.

Based on the studies included in this review, topical vitamin E appears to offer beneficial effects in mitigating the severity and duration of oral mucositis lesions in patients undergoing cancer treatment. However, no standardized protocol currently exists regarding dosage, mode of application (therapeutic vs. preventive), or duration of treatment. Further clinical trials are warranted to establish clear guidelines for the use of topical vitamin E in this context.

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