Effect of vitamin E and supragingival scaling on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with 131I

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E and supragingival scaling with vitamin C on the salivary glands of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after I-131 treatment. Methods A total of 89 prospective patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled and randomly divided into the following groups: vitamin E group (n = 30, group A), vitamin C group (n = 30, group B) and supragingival scaling with vitamin C group (n = 29, group C). Using functional indices (e.g. maximum uptake fraction, uptake index, excretion fraction, secretion time and excretion rate), changes in the salivary gland functions before and a month after I-131 treatment were assessed by dynamic imaging of salivary gland. Results We compared the before and after I-131 therapy results of the three groups. In group A (P < 0.05), the excretion fraction and excretion rate of the left parotid gland were significantly higher, and the uptake index of the bilateral submandibular glands was significantly lower. No significant changes in salivary gland functional parameters were observed in group B (P > 0.05). The uptake index of the bilateral parotid glands and the excretion rate of the left parotid gland were significantly higher in group C (P < 0.05). The degree of serum amylase level reduction decreased significantly in group C (P < 0.05). Conclusion Vitamin E showed a protective effect on parotid excretion function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent I-131 treatment. Supragingival scaling may be a promising radiation protector because it is associated with a protective effect on the salivary gland functions.