Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Oral complications following cancer treatment are a challenging issue for oncologists. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biotics in the prevention and treatment of oral complications in thyroid and head and neck cancers. Methods Following the PRISMA criteria, a sy...

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Main Authors: Mohammadreza Shafiei, Shayan Mardi, Soodeh Ghadimi, Helia Poorshahbazi, Roozbeh Pourabbas, Mohammadamin Keykhah, Hosein Rafiemanesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05876-9
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author Mohammadreza Shafiei
Shayan Mardi
Soodeh Ghadimi
Helia Poorshahbazi
Roozbeh Pourabbas
Mohammadamin Keykhah
Hosein Rafiemanesh
author_facet Mohammadreza Shafiei
Shayan Mardi
Soodeh Ghadimi
Helia Poorshahbazi
Roozbeh Pourabbas
Mohammadamin Keykhah
Hosein Rafiemanesh
author_sort Mohammadreza Shafiei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Oral complications following cancer treatment are a challenging issue for oncologists. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biotics in the prevention and treatment of oral complications in thyroid and head and neck cancers. Methods Following the PRISMA criteria, a systematic review and meta-analysis of included studies on efficacy, safety, dosage, and duration of treatment was performed. Results A total of 12 randomized controlled trials and a total of 885 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. Our analysis showed that biotics had a slight but insignificant effect on the incidence of oral mucositis (Risk ratio (RR) = 0.90, 95% CI [0.79, 1.03]), and a significant impact on reducing the severity of oral mucositis (RR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.48, 0.80]). Biotics also had a slight but insignificant effect in developing xerostomia in thyroid and Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Subgroup meta-analysis demonstrated that Bifidobacterium-containing products were more effective than other blends. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that biotics are effective and safe for HNC and thyroid patients suffering from oral complications.
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spelling doaj-art-79bd542542e4428ea3460b0808a9c3052025-08-20T01:47:32ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-05-0125111010.1186/s12903-025-05876-9Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysisMohammadreza Shafiei0Shayan Mardi1Soodeh Ghadimi2Helia Poorshahbazi3Roozbeh Pourabbas4Mohammadamin Keykhah5Hosein Rafiemanesh6Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical SciencesSchool of Medicine, Azad University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical SciencesNon-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Oral complications following cancer treatment are a challenging issue for oncologists. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biotics in the prevention and treatment of oral complications in thyroid and head and neck cancers. Methods Following the PRISMA criteria, a systematic review and meta-analysis of included studies on efficacy, safety, dosage, and duration of treatment was performed. Results A total of 12 randomized controlled trials and a total of 885 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. Our analysis showed that biotics had a slight but insignificant effect on the incidence of oral mucositis (Risk ratio (RR) = 0.90, 95% CI [0.79, 1.03]), and a significant impact on reducing the severity of oral mucositis (RR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.48, 0.80]). Biotics also had a slight but insignificant effect in developing xerostomia in thyroid and Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Subgroup meta-analysis demonstrated that Bifidobacterium-containing products were more effective than other blends. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that biotics are effective and safe for HNC and thyroid patients suffering from oral complications.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05876-9ProbioticsOral complicationsHead and Neck neoplasmsRadiotherapyMeta-Analysis
spellingShingle Mohammadreza Shafiei
Shayan Mardi
Soodeh Ghadimi
Helia Poorshahbazi
Roozbeh Pourabbas
Mohammadamin Keykhah
Hosein Rafiemanesh
Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Oral Health
Probiotics
Oral complications
Head and Neck neoplasms
Radiotherapy
Meta-Analysis
title Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy and tolerability of probiotics prebiotics and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Probiotics
Oral complications
Head and Neck neoplasms
Radiotherapy
Meta-Analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05876-9
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