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Clinical Trials/NCT07381361
NCT07381361
Active, not recruiting
Not Applicable

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy and Alpha-Lipoic Acid in the Treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome

Lu Jiang1 site in 1 country60 target enrollmentStarted: April 10, 2025Last updated:

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Active, not recruiting
Sponsor
Lu Jiang
Enrollment
60
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

Overview

Brief Summary

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy and alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of burning mouth syndrome by symptom assessment with visual analogue scale.

Detailed Description

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS), hereinafter referred to as BMS, also known as glossodynia, oral mucosal dysesthesia, and other terms, is a type of neurosis. Its prevalence is approximately 0.7%-8%. Currently, the etiology and pathophysiology of BMS are not yet clear, and there is no known cure. Clinical treatment aims to alleviate patients' subjective symptoms, employing drug therapies (such as rinsing with 2%-4% sodium bicarbonate solution, oryzanol, methylcobalamin, alpha-lipoic acid, etc.), or combining cognitive behavioral therapy and removal of local irritants (such as dental calculus), but the therapeutic effects are limited.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a therapeutic method that induces a series of physiological effects in cells, tissues, animals, and humans through the irradiation of specific wavelengths of red or near-infrared light. Research indicates that PBMT can alleviate the pain intensity in patients with BMS through its photobiological effects. Research has shown that photobiomodulation therapy can alleviate the pain of patients with burning mouth syndrome through photobiological effects. Therefore, this research project primarily investigates the efficacy of PBMT for BMS and the differences in therapeutic effects under different parameter settings by establishing a controlled trial with a low-energy laser treatment group and an alpha-lipoic acid control group. Based on the results of the clinical trial, this therapy is intended to be promoted.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Adults aged 18 to 75 years
  • Diagnosis of Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) according to the 3rd edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3)
  • Daily intraoral burning or dysesthesia lasting for more than 2 hours for over 3 months
  • Normal oral mucosa and sensory testing
  • Condition not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria

  • Other oral mucosal diseases, such as oral leukoplakia or oral lichen planus
  • Diabetes with poor blood glucose control
  • Hematological diseases
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Severe mental disorders preventing cooperation with treatment
  • Heart failure (New York Heart Association class III-IV)

Arms & Interventions

PBMT group

Experimental

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients in PBMT group were provided with BMS disease explanation and psychological counseling. They will receive low-energy laser therapy with an energy density of 5 J/cm² and a power of 0.1/0.5 W for a consecutive period of 2 weeks, 5 days per week.

Intervention: Low Level Laser Therapy (Other)

ALA group

Active Comparator

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients in the ALA group were provided with BMS disease explanation and psychological counseling. Then they took α-lipoic acid (ALA) 3 times a day, after meals, 200 mg each time, for 2 consecutive weeks.

Intervention: Alpha Lipoic Acid (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks after intervention or observation

The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used to assess the intensity of the patient's pain. The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" (the best possible outcome) and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable" (the worst possible outcome). Therefore, higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater pain intensity). During the interview or telephone follow-up, the patient will be asked to report the number that best describes their pain.

Secondary Outcomes

No secondary outcomes reported

Investigators

Sponsor
Lu Jiang
Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor Investigator
Principal Investigator

Lu Jiang

Clinical Professor

Sichuan University

Study Sites (1)

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