title: A clinical trial of antioxidant supplements in the treatment of oral leukoplakia.
abstract: Seventy-nine patients with oral leukoplakia that was histologically verified as either hyperkeratosis or epithelial dysplasia with hyperkeratosis were enrolled in an antioxidant supplementation program for the treatment of the oral lesions. The patients received 30 mg of beta-carotene, 1000 mg of ascorbic acid, and 800 IU of alpha-tocopherol per day for 9 months. Clinical improvement of the oral lesion was noted in 55.7% of the patients and was more likely to occur in patients who reduced their use of alcohol or tobacco (p = 0.0056). Although risk-factor reduction was important, approximately half of the patients who did not alter their exposure to either alcohol or tobacco showed clinical improvement. The antioxidant supplementation significantly increased serum and tissue levels of beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol, but these changes did not correlate strongly with clinical improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Kaugars
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lovas
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid