Leukoplakia causes thick, white patches inside the mouth. They may cause pain and make it hard to eat some foods. Over time, some of the patches may turn into cancer.
It is treated with changes to lifestyle habits, such as stopping smoking and dental care. Some people may need surgery to remove patches that do not go away or show signs of cancer. Sometimes, people turn to natural therapies to help control the patches.
Natural Therapies
Likely Effective
These supplements are likely to promote healing:
- Beta-carotene is a red-orange compound found in fruits and vegetables. A1, A3, A5-A7
- Vitamin A helps with immune function. A1, A6
May Be Effective
These supplements may be effective:
- Curcumin (Turmeric) is a bright yellow compound found in turmeric. A2
- Retinol is a yellow compound found in green and yellow vegetables. A7
- Vitamin E is a nutrient found in many foods that helps protects cells from damage. It can also be taken as a supplement. A7
May Not Be Effective
Vitamin C is a nutrient found in some foods that helps protect cells from damage. It can also be taken as a supplement. A3
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Herbs and Supplements to Be Used With Caution
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References
Herbs and Supplements
REFA1 Lodi G, Franchini R, et al. Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia to prevent oral cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;7:CD001829.
REFA2 Kuriakose MA, Ramdas K, et al. A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Phase IIB Trial of Curcumin in Oral Leukoplakia. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(8):683-691.
REFA3 Nagao T, Warnakulasuriya S, et al. Treatment of oral leukoplakia with a low-dose of beta-carotene and vitamin C supplements: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Cancer. 2015 Apr 1;136(7):1708-1717.
REFA4 Lodi G, Sardella A, et al. Systematic review of randomized trials for the treatment of oral leukoplakia. J Dent Educ. 2002 Aug;66(8):896-902.
REFA5 Garewal HS, Katz RV, et al. Beta carotene produces sustained remissions in patients with oral leukoplakia: results of a multicenter prospective trial. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 Dec;125(12):1305-1310.
REFA6 Sankaranarayanan R, Mathew B, et al. Chemoprevention of oral leukoplakia with vitamin A and beta carotene: an assessment. Oral Oncol. 1997 Jul;33(4):231-236.
REFA7 Zaridze D, Evstifeeva T, et al. Chemoprevention of oral leukoplakia and chronic esophagitis in an area of high incidence of oral and esophageal cancer. Ann Epidemiol. 1993 May;3(3):225-234.