Date of Award
2023
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Are omega-3 supplements an effective treatment in reducing the number of aphthous ulcers in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis?”
Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2021.
Data Sources: All three RCTs were discovered using PubMed. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question and if they included patient-oriented outcomes.
Outcome Measured: Number of aphthous ulcers after six months was the outcome measured in all three studies. The outcome was measured by a self-reported number of aphthous ulcers or by a blind specialist depending on the study. The mean change from baseline was calculated once the intervention was received.
Results: In the RCT led by El Khouli et al., omega -3 supplements reduced the mean number of aphthous ulcers present after six months of treatment compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 5.64. In the RCT by Hadian et al., omega-3 supplements reduced the number of aphthous ulcers in RAS patients compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001), indicated by a mean change from a baseline of 2.25. Lastly, in Nosratzehi et al., omega-3 supplements reduced the number of aphthous ulcers in RAS patients compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05), indicated by a mean change from a baseline of 0.71.
Conclusion: All three RCTs used to conduct this systematic review demonstrated that omega-3 supplements effectively reduced the number of aphthous ulcers present. The results of all three studies are conclusive and found statistically significant based on the calculated p-values. This suggests that omega-3 supplements are an effective and beneficial treatment method in reducing the number of aphthous ulcers for a patient with RAS. Further studies should explore treatment duration, increasing the sample size, and therapy longevity.
Recommended Citation
Martin-Conyers, Alicia, "Are omega-3 supplements an effective treatment in reducing the number of aphthous ulcers in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis?" (2023). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 674.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/674