The efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid in the management of burning mouth syndrome: An updated systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) causes burning or uncomfortable feelings in the oral cavity without any obvious injuries. This condition's etiopathogenesis is still unknown, consequently, BMS management is very challenging. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring potent bioactive compound that has been found to be useful in the management of BMS in many studies. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review to investigate the usefulness of ALA in the management of BMS based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

Different electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were extensively searched to find relevant studies.

RESULTS

This study included nine RCTs that matched the inclusion criteria. In most studies, ALA was given at a dose of 600-800 mg/day, with up to two months of follow-up. The majority of studies (six out of nine studies) indicated that ALA was more effective in BMS patients than in the placebo-controlled group.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive systematic review provides evidence of the positive outcomes of the treatment of BMS with ALA. However, more research might be needed before ALA can be considered the first-line therapy for BMS.