title: Multivitamin therapy for recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a painful condition of unknown etiology, affecting more than 2.5 billion people worldwide. Vitamin deficiencies have been implicated as a possible cause.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a single-center, randomized, parallel-arm, double-masked, placebo-controlled study to examine the effect of daily multivitamin supplementation on the number and duration of RAS episodes. The authors randomly assigned 160 adults who had a validated history of at least three episodes of idiopathic minor RAS within the previous 12 months to one of two groups: the first group (n = 83) received a once-daily multivitamin containing 100 percent of the U.S. reference daily intake (RDI) of essential vitamins, and the second group (n = 77) received once-daily placebo for up to 365 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed no significant difference in the mean number of new RAS episodes between the multivitamin (4.19 episodes) and placebo (4.60 episodes) arms during the study period (P = .69). The mean duration of new RAS episodes also was similar for the multivitamin (8.66 days) and placebo (8.99 days) arms (P = .60). Furthermore, the authors found no differences between the two arms with regard to mouth pain, normalcy of diet or compliance with the study medication regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily multivitamin supplementation, with the RDI of essential vitamins, did not result in a reduction in the number or duration of RAS episodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should not recommend multi-vitamin supplementation routinely as prophylaxis for RAS.
authors.affiliation: Section of Oral Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Conn. 06030-1605, USA. lalla@uchc.edu
authors.forename: Rajesh V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Lalla
authors.forename: Linda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Choquette
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Feinn
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zawistowski
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Latortue
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baccaglini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid