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Using Gum Arabic for Cancer Patients to Protect From Oral Mucositis Caused by Chemotherapy: ِِِAn Experimental Study

Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Gum Arabic to Reduce Incidence of Oral Mucositis Induced by Chemotherapy for Cancer Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03348241
Enrollment
386
Registered
2017-11-20
Start date
2015-10-26
Completion date
2016-08-31
Last updated
2017-11-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis

Keywords

Gum Arabic, Cancer patients, Chemotherapy, Oral mucositis

Brief summary

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Gum Arabic (GA) on cancer patients to prevent chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. Cancer patients who will receive chemotherapy were divided into two groups; study Gum Arabic group (which received GA with chemotherapy) and control group (chemotherapy alone); and the participants were recruited to reach 190 patients in the study group and 184 patients in control group. This clinical trial was conducted in outpatient chemotherapy sections at Radiation and Isotopes Center of Khartoum. This study was designed to test the theory that say the chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis will significantly decrease after ingestion 30 grams as daily dose of Gum Arabic in a form of solution for six weeks during therapy.

Interventions

Gum acacia, also known as Gum Arabic is exuded from acacia trees; mainly from Acacia Senegal (gum Hashab or Kordofan gum) which was used in this study.

DRUGChemotherapy

Patients of control group and study group (Gum Arabic group) received chemotherapy according to type and stage of cancer.

BEHAVIORALLifestyle counseling

Lifestyle counseling pertaining to the optimal nutrition and daily routine for oral hygiene.

Sponsors

University of Science and Technology, Yemen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

This is an experimental study. It was a two-arm randomized, controlled, open-label trial. The patients was categorized into two groups; study group and control group. Patients of study group was received a dose of 30 grams Gum Arabic per day as oral solution (dissolved in 250 ml purified water) for six weeks along with the chemotherapy prescribed, while patients of control group was received only chemotherapy regimen.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to 83 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients whom well diagnosed with cancer in any stage were eligible for enrolment if chemotherapy is part of their treatment plan.

Exclusion criteria

Patients were excluded if * they had received recent previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy, * they had oral mucositis or periodontitis, * there is evidence of any systemic diseases.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The effect of Gum Arabic to prevent Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis was the primary outcome that assessed using World Health Organization Mucositis Scoring.Six weeks for each participant from starting therapy.The primary outcome measure of oral mucositis in cancer patients who received chemotherapy was depend on presence or absence oral mucositis after commencement the treatment because they were new diagnosed cases and free from oral mucositis. World Health Organization Mucositis Scale, was the scoring system used to assess oral mucositis based on a combination of subjective (soreness as described by the patient), objective (presence of erythema and ulcerations) and functional (ability to eat solids, liquids or nothing by mouth) outcomes. During six weeks of follow up there were specific questions that asked by researcher and had been answered by patient regarding oral mucositis. Those questions summarized as follow: 1. Does the oral mucositis was occurred during this week? 2. If Yes. Is there was soreness, erythema or ulcers in mouth of participant? 3. The day that oral mucositis was started and eliminated? 4. If the patient belong to study group; Is Gum Arabic still used regularly?

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026