Effect of Omega-3 on Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis and Improvement Quality of Life

Objective. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases in oral mucosa. Beneficial effects of omega-3 supplements on some inflammatory diseases have been proved. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of omega-3 supplements in recurrent aphthous stomatitis management and improve oral health-related quality of life. Methods. In this double-blind clinical trial, 40 patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis were randomly divided into case and control groups. The case group received 1000 mg capsules of omega-3, while the control group received placebo capsules for 6 months. The questionnaires of the ulcer severity score and the chronic oral mucosal disease questionnaire were filled by the patients in three steps, at the baseline session, after 3 months, and after 6 months. The data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software through ANOVA, Mann–Whitney, and chi-square tests. <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"> <a:mi>P</a:mi> <a:mo><</a:mo> <a:mn>0.05</a:mn> </a:math> was considered as significant. Results. In the omega-3 group, the ulcer severity score showed significant reduction by three-month and six-month follow-ups ( <c:math xmlns:c="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"> <c:mi>P</c:mi> <c:mo><</c:mo> <c:mn>0.0001</c:mn> </c:math> , <e:math xmlns:e="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"> <e:mi>P</e:mi> <e:mo><</e:mo> <e:mn>0.0001</e:mn> </e:math> , respectively). The mean score of the chronic oral mucosal disease questionnaire significantly improved by three-month and six-month follow-ups in the omega-3-receiving group. Conclusion. Use of omega-3 oral supplements decreased the severity of aphthous ulcer and improved oral health-related quality of life.