Table 3.
Characterization of the included RCTs
| References | Diagnosis | Concurrent therapy | Endpoint | Dose | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creagan et al. (1979)a | Different types of cancer | no | 1. OS | 10 g daily, oral | 1: No significant group differences, p = 0.61 |
| 2. Symptom reduction | 2: No significant group differences | ||||
| 3. Toxicity | 3: No significant group differences | ||||
| Jeon et al. (2016) | Colorectal cancer | Surgery | 1. Pain |
50 mg/kg (ascorbic acid 10 g/20 mL), intravenous, for 30 min |
1: At rest in arm A significantly lower than in arm B: 2 h after OP (T1): A: MV = 4 (SD = 2), B: MV = 5.5 (SD = 1.5) 6 h after OP (T2): A: MV = 3.8 (SD = 2), B: MV = 5 (SD = 1.7) 24 h after OP (T3): A: MV = 3.8 (SD = 2), B: MV = 5 (SD = 1.7), T1–T3: p < 0.05; No group differences during coughing: T1–T3: p > 0.05 |
| 2. Morphine administration after operation |
2: T1: less in arm A than in arm B: A: MW = 15 mg (SD = 5), B: MW = 18 mg (SD = 5), p < 0.05; T2/T3: No significant group differences |
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| 3. Fatigue |
3: No significant group differences: T1–T3: p > 0.05 |
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| 4. Toxicity |
4: Significantly less need for additional opiates in arm A: A: MV = 0.8 (SD = 0.8), B: MV = 1.4 (SD = 1), p = 0.00; No significant group differences with regard to post-op nausea/vomiting; Duration of hospitalization in arms A and B 1–2 days each |
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| Liu et al. (2010) | Thyroid cancer | Radiotherapy | 1. Time–activity curve of the salivary glands | 100 mg every 4 h, oral, for 6 days | 1: No data |
| 2. Dosimetry in saliva |
2: No significant group differences in glandular parotid and submandibular: p = 0.37, 0.28 |
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| 3. Relative cumulative activity in saliva during the first 24 h |
3: No significant group differences in glandular parotitis and submandibular: p = 0.21, 0.16 |
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| 4. Dosimetry in saliva (first 24 h) |
4: No significant group differences in glandular parotitis and submandibular: p = 0.32, 0.24 |
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| Ma et al. (2014)a | Ovarian cancer | Paclitaxel/ Carboplatin therapy | 1. Toxicity | 15 g to 75/100 g per infusion, intravenous, for 12 months |
1: No 5th-degree side effects, no significant group differences in 3rd and 4th-degree side effects; Significantly less side effects 1st and 2nd degree in arm A: p = 0.001, 0.03 |
| 2. OS | 2: No significant group differences—better in arm A | ||||
| 3. PFS |
3: No significant group differences—longer in arm A: A: 25.5 months, B: 16.75 months |
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| Moertel et al. (1985)a | Colorectal cancer | no | 1. OS | 10 g daily, oral, for median: 2.5 months | 1: No significant group differences—better OS in arm B |
| 2. PFS |
2: No significant group differences—longer PFS in arm B: A: 2.9 months, B: 4.1 months |
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| 3. Regression |
3: Similar improvement of both arms: A: 64%, B: 65% |
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| 4. Toxicity |
4: No significant group differences, more indigestion in arm A: A: 18%, B: 6% |
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| 5. Symptom reduction | 5: No regression |
MW mean value, OS overall-Survival, PFS progression-free-survival, SD standard deviation
aRCTs from systematic review by Jacobs et al. (2015)