SynthesisPain research & management
A systematic review and meta-analyses of nonsucrose sweet solutions for pain relief in neonates.
Synthesis in Pain research & management. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02984098 (40% Orally Administered Dextrose Gel is More Effective Than 25% Dextrose But Not Sufficiently Reliefs Acute Pain in Term Neonates), which is not on this map. Cited by 46 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
40% Orally Administered Dextrose Gel is More Effective Than 25% Dextrose But Not Sufficiently Reliefs Acute Pain in Term Neonates: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Who cites it
46 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 175 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Physical Interventions Administered Orally for Infants for Reducing Distress During Vaccine Injections.The Clinical journal of pain · 2026Pooled it
- The comparative efficacy and safety of sweet solutions to reduce preterm infants' pain levels: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Systematic reviews · 2026Pooled it
- Effect of glucose on pain relief during invasive procedures in premature infants: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2025Pooled it
- Non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention of pain during endotracheal suctioning in ventilated neonates.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Sucrose analgesia for heel-lance procedures in neonates.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Clonidine for pain in non-ventilated infants.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Breastfeeding for procedural pain in infants beyond the neonatal period.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Sucrose for analgesia in newborn infants undergoing painful procedures.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- [Efficacy of sweet solutions in relieving pain caused by vaccination in infants aged 1 to 12 months: a systematic review].Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics · 2016Pooled it
- Sweet tasting solutions for reduction of needle-related procedural pain in children aged one to 16 years.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- Too many crying babies: a systematic review of pain management practices during immunizations on YouTube.BMC pediatrics · 2014Pooled it
- The efficacy of oral sucrose for relieving lumbar puncture pain in neonates: a randomised clinical trial.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Trial
- Comparing the effects of oral sucrose and kangaroo mother care on selected physiological variables and pain resulting from venipuncture in premature newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units.European journal of medical research · 2024Trial
- Effect of pacifier and pacifier with dextrose in reducing pain during orogastric tube insertion in newborns: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2024Trial
- Effect of whole body massage on pain scores of neonates during venous puncture and comparison with oral dextrose and Kangaroo care, a randomized controlled evaluator-blind clinical study.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2023Trial
- Randomised controlled trial of fosfomycin in neonatal sepsis: pharmacokinetics and safety in relation to sodium overload.Archives of disease in childhood · 2022Trial
- Prevention of Pain During Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity: A Randomized Control Trial Comparing Breast Milk, 10% Dextrose and Sterile Water.Indian journal of pediatrics · 2020Trial
- Greater analgesic effects of sucrose in the neonate predict greater weight gain to age 18 months.Appetite · 2020Trial
- The minimally effective dose of sucrose for procedural pain relief in neonates: a randomized controlled trial.BMC pediatrics · 2018Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSucrose has been demonstrated to provide analgesia for minor painful procedures in infants. However, results of trials investigating other sweet solutions for neonatal pain relief have not yet been synthesized.
objectiveTo establish the efficacy of nonsucrose sweet-tasting solutions for pain relief during painful procedures in neonates.
methodThe present article is a systematic review and meta-analyses of the literature. Standard methods of the Cochrane Neonatal Collaborative Review Group were used. Literature searches were reviewed for randomized controlled trials investigating the use of sweet solutions, except sucrose, for procedural pain management in neonates. Outcomes assessed included validated pain measures and behavioural and physiological indicators.
resultsThirty-eight studies (3785 neonates) were included, 35 of which investigated glucose. Heel lancing was performed in 21⁄38 studies and venipuncture in 11⁄38 studies. A 3.6-point reduction in Premature Infant Pain Profile scores during heel lances was observed in studies comparing 20% to 30% glucose with no intervention (two studies, 124 neonates; mean difference -3.6 [95% CI -4.6 to -2.6]; P<0.001; I2=54%). A significant reduction in the incidence of cry after venipuncture for infants receiving 25% to 30% glucose versus water or no intervention was observed (three studies, 130 infants; risk difference -0.18 [95% CI -0.31 to -0.05]; P=0.008, number needed to treat = 6 [95% CI 3 to 20]; I2=63%).
conclusionsThe present systematic review and meta-analyses demonstrate that glucose reduces pain scores and crying during single heel lances and venipunctures. Results indicate that 20% to 30% glucose solutions have analgesic effects and can be recommended as an alternative to sucrose for procedural pain reduction in healthy term and preterm neonates.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.