Usefulness of oral administration of the specialized amino acid supplement consisting of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, L-arginine and L-glutamine (Abound™) for chronic soft tissue diseases in the mouth.

Background: Abound™ is a nutritional supplement containing β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, Lglutamine, and L-arginine (HMB/Gln/Arg). In recent years, the effects of these nutrients in promoting wound healing have been reported. Here we report our experience of using this supplement for the treatment of chronic oral mucosal diseases. Methods： We clinically investigated the effects of HMB/Gln/Arg on 9 cases of chronic oral mucosal diseases such as oral lichen planus and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Results: Improvement in subjective symptoms was observed in 7 out of 9 cases of oral mucosal diseases. Conclusion: We found that the use of this supplement was effective in the treatment of 7 out of 9 cases of chronic oral mucosal diseases. Thus, we believe that HMB/Gln/Arg use should be considered as a treatment option.