title: Effectiveness of honey on radiation-induced oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions among patients with head and neck malignancies: A meta-analysis and systematic review of literature.
abstract: Mucositis is a disabling effect of radiotherapy in head and neck cancers. There is no current standard on management of radiation-induced mucositis. Honey has been shown to reduce radiation-induced mucositis.
  
  
  
  A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to assess the ability of honey in reducing the severity of oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions.
  
  
  
  Eight studies were included and showed that honey was significantly better in lowering the risk for treatment interruptions, weight loss, and delaying time to mucositis, but not severity of mucositis.
  
  
  
  There is current evidence that honey is beneficial for patients with head and neck cancers by decreasing treatment interruptions, weight loss, and delaying the onset of oral mucositis, but not in decreasing peak mucositis score. In light of the results, honey is a reasonable treatment for radiation-induced mucositis, but more randomized clinical trials (RCTs) should be done. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1119-1128, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Benavides Cancer Institute, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Jayson L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Co
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Benavides Cancer Institute, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Michael Benedict A
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.affiliation: Center for Pain Medicine, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Benavides Cancer Institute, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Jocelyn C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Que
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Benavides Cancer Institute, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Janine Margarita R
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dizon
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects; D011379:Prognosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: head and neck cancers; honey; radiation-induced mucositis; radiotherapy