Sumalee NuchitAroonwan Lam-ubolWannaporn PaemuangSineepat TalungchitOrapin ChokchaitamOn ong MungkungTippawan PongcharoenDunyaporn TrachoothamMahidol UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol UniversitySrinakharinwirot UniversityChonburi Cancer Hospital2020-01-272020-01-272019-01-01Supportive Care in Cancer. (2019)14337339094143552-s2.0-85075244614https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/52301© 2019, The Author(s). Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an edible saliva substitute, oral moisturizing jelly (OMJ), and a topical saliva gel (GC) on dry mouth, swallowing ability, and nutritional status in post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Sixty-two post-radiation head and neck cancer patients with xerostomia completed a blinded randomized controlled trial. They were advised to swallow OMJ (n = 31) or apply GC orally (n = 31) for 2 months. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 1, and 2 months, including subjective and objective dry mouth (Challcombe) scores, subjective swallowing problem scores (EAT-10), water swallowing time, clinical nutritional status (PG-SGA), body weight, and dietary intake. Results: After 1 and 2 months of interventions, subjective and objective dry mouth scores, subjective swallowing problem scores, swallowing times, and clinical nutritional status in both groups were significantly improved (p < 0.0001). Compared to GC, OMJ group had higher percent improvement in all outcome measures (p < 0.001) except swallowing time and clinical nutritional status. Interestingly, subjective dry mouth scores were significantly correlated with subjective swallowing problem scores (r = 0.5321, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Continuous uses of saliva substitutes (OMJ or GC) for at least a month improved signs and symptoms of dry mouth and enhanced swallowing ability. An edible saliva substitute was superior to a topical saliva gel for alleviating dry mouth and swallow problems. These lead to improved clinical nutritional status. Thus, palliation of dry mouth may be critical to support nutrition of post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients. Clinical trial registry: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03035825.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1007/s00520-019-05132-1