The Effect of Orally-Administered Zinc in the Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background: Oral mucositis is a frequent yet serious adverse event associated with chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia. Although a wide spectrum of drugs has been tested for prophylaxis of oral mucositis, few of them are satisfactory. There is currently substantial clinical interest in zinc (Zn) as an antioxidant and a protective agent against chemotherapy-related normal tissue injury. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether zinc prevents oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy in patients with AML. Methods: A total of 140 patients with AML were randomly selected and divided into two groups where the case groups received zinc sulfate 220 mg orally and the control groups received placeboes 3 times a day during their chemotherapy course. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 15 software. Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate mucositis, and pain intensity. Results: The incidence rates of mucositis were all markedly lower in oral zinc sulfate group than in control (P = 0.004). Conclusions: Zinc is available for preventing the complications of oral mucositis, and thus for improving patient quality of life.