Impact of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis on body weight and BMI of patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis on body weight and body mass index (BMI) in head and neck cancer patients.

Methods: Patients were separated into two groups: photobiomodulation (PBM) (n = 17) and SHAM (n = 19). Participants assigned to the PBM group received the photobiomodulation therapy on alternate days at 33 different sites of the oral mucosa (1 J for 10 s per application point) using a low-power aluminum gallium arsenide (AsGaAl) laser device with a maximum output power of 86.

Nutritional supplements in the management of oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: Narrative literary review.

Background And Aims: Oral mucositis is the most common side effect in response to anticancer therapies in the head and neck region. It has a debilitating potential for the health of affected individuals, negatively interfering with nutritional status and quality of life. Due to the great complexity of its pathogenicity, different forms of interventions for prevention and treatment are being studied, including nutritional supplements with vitamin E, zinc and glutamine.