Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40316921›Full record

SynthesisBMC oral health2025

Efficacy and tolerability of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics consumption on oral complications of patients with thyroid and head and neck cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mohammadreza Shafiei, Shayan Mardi, Soodeh Ghadimi, Helia Poorshahbazi, Roozbeh Pourabbas, Mohammadamin Keykhah, Hosein Rafiemanesh

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Effectiveness ofFrontiers in immunology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mohammadreza ShafieiStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. Mohammadrezashafiei.md@gmail.com.
Shayan MardiStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
Soodeh GhadimiSchool of Medicine, Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Helia PoorshahbaziStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Roozbeh PourabbasStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Mohammadamin KeykhahStudent Research Committee, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Hosein RafiemaneshNon-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. Rafiemanesh.hosein@gmail.com.

Funding

Alborz University of Medical Sciences 6923
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOral complications following cancer treatment are a challenging issue for oncologists. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biotics in the prevention and treatment of oral complications in thyroid and head and neck cancers.

methodsFollowing the PRISMA criteria, a systematic review and meta-analysis of included studies on efficacy, safety, dosage, and duration of treatment was performed.

resultsA total of 12 randomized controlled trials and a total of 885 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. Our analysis showed that biotics had a slight but insignificant effect on the incidence of oral mucositis (Risk ratio (RR) = 0.90, 95% CI [0.79, 1.03]), and a significant impact on reducing the severity of oral mucositis (RR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.48, 0.80]). Biotics also had a slight but insignificant effect in developing xerostomia in thyroid and Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Subgroup meta-analysis demonstrated that Bifidobacterium-containing products were more effective than other blends.

conclusionOur findings demonstrated that biotics are effective and safe for HNC and thyroid patients suffering from oral complications.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsPrebioticsProbioticsStomatitisThyroid NeoplasmsHumansXerostomiaPrebioticsHead and Neck neoplasmsMeta-AnalysisOral complicationsProbioticsRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID40316921
PMCPMC12049045

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.