Effectiveness of Nonpharmacologic Treatments of Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Systematic Review
ReviewHumans
- Design
- Review
- Subjects
- 27 randomised controlled trials and 6 open clinical trials covering 14 non-pharmacological interventions
- Dose used in the study
- Alpha-lipoic acid 600 to 800 mg/day in 11 trials; palmitoylethanolamide dose not stated
- Duration
- Alpha-lipoic acid 30 to 120 days; capsaicin 7 to 30 days; PEA duration not stated
- What was measured
- Pain relief and other outcomes of non-pharmacological treatments for burning mouth syndrome, with risk of bias assessment.
What the authors reported
This review of burning mouth syndrome treatments found:
- Seven placebo-controlled alpha-lipoic acid trials showed significant pain relief.
- Two capsaicin trials and four of five acupuncture trials were favourable.
- Short-term pain relief was reported in single placebo-controlled trials of tocopherol, catuama, ultramicronised palmitoylethanolamide, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy and rTMS.
- Most therapies were reported as safe.
Limits of this study
The authors rate the evidence as highly biased, short-term and heterogeneous. Ultramicronised palmitoylethanolamide was supported by one trial only, described as anecdotal, with no numbers given. Funding and conflicts not stated in the abstract.
Source
PubMed 34609377 · doi:10.11607/ofph.2868
Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.