Recurrent Aphthous StomatitisPhase 4ZO-RASNCT07565181
Effect of Zinc Oxide Ointment on Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
A Phase 4 study testing zinc oxide and Placabo in people with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, run by Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of zinc oxide ointment in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The study included 100 patients randomly assigned to receive either zinc oxide ointment or a placebo, applied three times daily for six days. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
- What is being tested?
- zinc oxide and Placabo
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 30 Jun 2025to 30 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 16 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- -Systemically healthy subjects suffering from minor oral RAS.
- Patients of both sexes, aged 16-45 years (to avoid the potential effects of age on healing).
- Participants had not received any treatment for the ulcers before being included in the study and had no active periodontitis.
- Ulcers are of a duration of less than 48 hours.
Who cannot join
- -Participants with removable prosthetic or orthodontic appliances (to avoid potential effects on healing).
- Tobacco chewers, smokers or alcoholics.
- Pregnant or lactating females.
- Patients who had previously or are presently taking medications that could affect events associated with the healing process (erg, corticosteroids, oral antidiabetics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-modulating agents).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Egypt1 site
Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls ,Al-Azhar university
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, 11651
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of Zinc Oxide Ointment in Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
This randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of zinc oxide ointment in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The study included 100 patients randomly assigned to receive either zinc oxide ointment or a placebo, applied three times daily for six days. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and oral health-related quality of life was assessed using OHIP-14 at baseline and on days 1, 3, and 6.
Read the detailed description
This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy of topical zinc oxide ointment in the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). A total of 100 participants diagnosed with RAS were enrolled and randomly assigned in equal proportions to either the intervention group receiving zinc oxide ointment or the control group receiving a placebo formulation. The study medication was applied topically three times daily for a duration of six consecutive days.
Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and on days 1, 3, and 6 post-treatment initiation. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while oral health-related quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Additional clinical observation included assessment of ulcer size and surrounding erythematous halo.
- Conditions
- Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
- Being tested
- zinc oxide, Placabo
- Keywords
- Zinc Oxide, Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, Treatment
- Medical subject headings
- Stomatitis, Aphthous
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
zinc oxideDrug
Also called Medicated ointment
zinc oxide ointment that was formulated as in a polyethylene glycol base. The prepared ointment was evaluated for organoleptic properties such as odor, color, pH, smoothness, and spread ability
PlacaboDrug
Also called Ointment without Zinc Oxide
A topical placebo ointment that was prepared the same as the test ointment without zinc oxide.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Znic Oxide Ointment group | Experimental | Participants administrated Zinc Oxide Ointment 3 times for 7days. Participants instructed to apply ointment after drinking and eating. Receives: Drug: zinc oxide |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Placebo ointment was administered by this group; it was prepared the same as the test ointment, without zinc oxide. Receives: Drug: Placabo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual analog scale
A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a subjective, validated, 100mm (or 10cm) straight-line tool used in healthcare to measure pain intensity, fatigue, or other sensations. Patients mark their sensation level between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain imaginable" (100). It is highly sensitive for tracking changes in symptoms over time
Measured: Before treatment ,Day 1,Day 3 and Day 6
Secondary outcomes (2)
Diameter of the ulcer
Measurement of erythematous halo diameter and whitish base
Measured: Day before treatment,1st day,3rd day and 6th day
OHIP-14
Oral health impact 14 questionnaire Secondary outcome: Oral health-related quality of life assessed using the validated Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), with scores ranging from 0 to 56, where higher scores indicate poorer quality of life.
Measured: At day 6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study start30 Jun 2025
- Primary completion30 Jan 2026
- Study completion30 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Recurrent Aphthous StomatitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Collaborators
- Cairo University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Esraa hamdy, Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls
- Investigators
- Naglaa M. El-Wakeel, PhD, Principal investigator, Al Azhar University for girls
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07565181
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- OMDR_105_1q
- Acronym
- ZO-RAS
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 4 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This study investigated whether zinc oxide (ZnO) ointment can help reduce pain and improve healing in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers (mouth ulcers). One hundred participants were divided into two groups: one received ZnO ointment and the other received a placebo. The treatment was applied three times daily for six days. Pain levels and oral health impact were measured before and after treatment. The results showed that ZnO ointment helped reduce pain faster in the early days compared to placebo, but there was no significant difference in overall quality of life after six days.
Publications
El-Wakeel NM, Dawoud MHS. Topical insulin-liposomal formulation in management of recurrent aphthous ulcers: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Investig Clin Dent. 2019 Nov;10(4):e12437. doi: 10.1111/jicd.12437. Epub 2019 Jul 27.
PubMed 31350870Ghorbani A, Akbari J, Boorboor M, Nekoukar Z, Eslami G. Evaluation of zinc sulfate mucoadhesive formulation on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Oral Health. 2020 Jul 28;20(1):212. doi: 10.1186/s12903-020-01194-4.
PubMed 32723352Halboub E, Al-Maweri SA, Parveen S, Al-Wesabi M, Al-Sharani HM, Al-Sharani A, Al-Kamel A, Albashari A, Shamala A. Zinc supplementation for prevention and management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2021 Dec;68:126811. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126811. Epub 2021 Jun 12.
PubMed 34146924Estornut C, Rinaldi G, Carceller MC, Estornut S, Perez-Leal M. Systemic and local effect of oxidative stress on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: systematic review. J Mol Med (Berl). 2024 Apr;102(4):453-463. doi: 10.1007/s00109-024-02434-8. Epub 2024 Feb 20.
PubMed 38376817Parssinen M, Jasberg H, Mikkonen JJW, Kullaa AM. Oral mucosal pellicle as an immune protection against micro-organisms in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2021 Jan;146:110449. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110449. Epub 2020 Dec 11.
PubMed 33359920Al-Maweri SA, Halboub E, Al-Sharani HM, Shamala A, Al-Kamel A, Al-Wesabi M, Albashari A, Al-Sharani A, Abdulrab S. Association between serum zinc levels and recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Feb;25(2):407-415. doi: 10.1007/s00784-020-03704-8. Epub 2021 Jan 6.
PubMed 33409687Kounoupis V, Andreadis D, Georgaki M, Albanidou-Farmaki E, Daniilidis M, Markopoulos A, Karyotis N, Nikitakis NG, Poulopoulos A. IL-10 and TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms in Greek patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2022 Sep 1;27(5):e426-e433. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25352.
PubMed 35660731Silva TM, Bolzan TCA, Zanini MS, Alencar T, Rodrigues WD, Bastos KA, Severi JA, Resende JA, Villanova JCO. Development and Evaluation of a Novel Oral Mucoadhesive Ointment Containing Pomegranate Peel Extract as an Adjuvant for Oral Hygiene of Dogs. J Vet Dent. 2020 Sep;37(3):133-140. doi: 10.1177/0898756420973470. Epub 2020 Nov 25.
PubMed 33234003
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of Zinc Oxide Ointment in Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07565181
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ZO-RAS / OMDR_105_1q
- Conditions
- Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis
- Keywords
- Zinc Oxide, Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, Treatment
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Faculty of Dental Medicine for GirlsOther government
- Collaborators
- Cairo University
- Study start
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of zinc oxide ointment in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The study included 100 patients randomly assigned to receive either zinc oxide ointment or a placebo, applied three times daily for six days. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and oral health-related quality of life was assessed using OHIP-14 at baseline and on days 1, 3, and 6.
Detailed description
This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy of topical zinc oxide ointment in the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). A total of 100 participants diagnosed with RAS were enrolled and randomly assigned in equal proportions to either the intervention group receiving zinc oxide ointment or the control group receiving a placebo formulation. The study medication was applied topically three times daily for a duration of six consecutive days.
Clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and on days 1, 3, and 6 post-treatment initiation. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while oral health-related quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Additional clinical observation included assessment of ulcer size and surrounding erythematous halo.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Znic Oxide Ointment group | Experimental | Drug: zinc oxideParticipants administrated Zinc Oxide Ointment 3 times for 7days. Participants instructed to apply ointment after drinking and eating. |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlacaboPlacebo ointment was administered by this group; it was prepared the same as the test ointment, without zinc oxide. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- -Systemically healthy subjects suffering from minor oral RAS.
- Patients of both sexes, aged 16-45 years (to avoid the potential effects of age on healing).
- Participants had not received any treatment for the ulcers before being included in the study and had no active periodontitis.
- Ulcers are of a duration of less than 48 hours.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- -Participants with removable prosthetic or orthodontic appliances (to avoid potential effects on healing).
- Tobacco chewers, smokers or alcoholics.
- Pregnant or lactating females.
- Patients who had previously or are presently taking medications that could affect events associated with the healing process (erg, corticosteroids, oral antidiabetics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-modulating agents).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| zinc oxideAlso: Medicated ointmentzinc oxide ointment that was formulated as in a polyethylene glycol base. The prepared ointment was evaluated for organoleptic properties such as odor, color, pH, smoothness, and spread ability | Drug | Znic Oxide Ointment group |
| PlacaboAlso: Ointment without Zinc OxideA topical placebo ointment that was prepared the same as the test ointment without zinc oxide. | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Visual analog scale
Time frame: Before treatment ,Day 1,Day 3 and Day 6
A Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a subjective, validated, 100mm (or 10cm) straight-line tool used in healthcare to measure pain intensity, fatigue, or other sensations. Patients mark their sensation level between "no pain" (0) and "worst pain imaginable" (100). It is highly sensitive for tracking changes in symptoms over time
2 secondary outcomes
Diameter of the ulcer
Time frame: Day before treatment,1st day,3rd day and 6th day
OHIP-14
Time frame: At day 6
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 31350870El-Wakeel NM, Dawoud MHS. Topical insulin-liposomal formulation in management of recurrent aphthous ulcers: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Investig Clin Dent. 2019 Nov;10(4):e12437. doi: 10.1111/jicd.12437. Epub 2019 Jul 27.
- Background: PubMed 32723352Ghorbani A, Akbari J, Boorboor M, Nekoukar Z, Eslami G. Evaluation of zinc sulfate mucoadhesive formulation on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Oral Health. 2020 Jul 28;20(1):212. doi: 10.1186/s12903-020-01194-4.
- Background: PubMed 34146924Halboub E, Al-Maweri SA, Parveen S, Al-Wesabi M, Al-Sharani HM, Al-Sharani A, Al-Kamel A, Albashari A, Shamala A. Zinc supplementation for prevention and management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2021 Dec;68:126811. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126811. Epub 2021 Jun 12.
- Background: PubMed 38376817Estornut C, Rinaldi G, Carceller MC, Estornut S, Perez-Leal M. Systemic and local effect of oxidative stress on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: systematic review. J Mol Med (Berl). 2024 Apr;102(4):453-463. doi: 10.1007/s00109-024-02434-8. Epub 2024 Feb 20.
- Background: PubMed 33359920Parssinen M, Jasberg H, Mikkonen JJW, Kullaa AM. Oral mucosal pellicle as an immune protection against micro-organisms in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2021 Jan;146:110449. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110449. Epub 2020 Dec 11.
- Background: PubMed 33409687Al-Maweri SA, Halboub E, Al-Sharani HM, Shamala A, Al-Kamel A, Al-Wesabi M, Albashari A, Al-Sharani A, Abdulrab S. Association between serum zinc levels and recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2021 Feb;25(2):407-415. doi: 10.1007/s00784-020-03704-8. Epub 2021 Jan 6.
- Background: PubMed 35660731Kounoupis V, Andreadis D, Georgaki M, Albanidou-Farmaki E, Daniilidis M, Markopoulos A, Karyotis N, Nikitakis NG, Poulopoulos A. IL-10 and TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms in Greek patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2022 Sep 1;27(5):e426-e433. doi: 10.4317/medoral.25352.
- Background: PubMed 33234003Silva TM, Bolzan TCA, Zanini MS, Alencar T, Rodrigues WD, Bastos KA, Severi JA, Resende JA, Villanova JCO. Development and Evaluation of a Novel Oral Mucoadhesive Ointment Containing Pomegranate Peel Extract as an Adjuvant for Oral Hygiene of Dogs. J Vet Dent. 2020 Sep;37(3):133-140. doi: 10.1177/0898756420973470. Epub 2020 Nov 25.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This study investigated whether zinc oxide (ZnO) ointment can help reduce pain and improve healing in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers (mouth ulcers). One hundred participants were divided into two groups: one received ZnO ointment and the other received a placebo. The treatment was applied three times daily for six days. Pain levels and oral health impact were measured before and after treatment. The results showed that ZnO ointment helped reduce pain faster in the early days compared to placebo, but there was no significant difference in overall quality of life after six days.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Naglaa M. El-Wakeel, PhD principal investigator
Al Azhar University for girls
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing zinc oxide and Placabo in people with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, run by Faculty of Dental Medicine for Girls at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Visual analog scale (time frame: Before treatment ,Day 1,Day 3 and Day 6). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07565181, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 May 2026.