ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral disease with unknown etiology. The association between IL-6-174?G/C and IL10-1082?G/A polymorphisms and the risk of RAS remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to gain more evidence-based information. METHODS:Four online databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, were searched, and the relevant publications were collected. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association of the IL-6-174?G/C and IL10-1082?G/A polymorphisms with RAS susceptibility. RESULTS:Nine published case-control studies with 779 patients and 1016 controls were collected. The overall analysis proved that the IL10-1082?G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of RAS in a dominant model (GG?+?AG vs AA: OR?=?1.49, 95% CI?=?1.10-2.01, P?=?.01). A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed significant associations in Asian populations in allelic, heterozygote, and dominant models (G vs A: OR?=?1.55, 95% CI?=?1.04-2.31, P?=?.03; AG vs AA: OR?=?1.76, 95% CI?=?1.16-2.67, P?=?.01; GG?+?AG vs AA: OR?=?2.04, 95% CI?=?1.37-3.03, P?=?.00). The association in Caucasians and people of mixed ethnicity requires further study. No significant association was detected between the IL-6-174?G/C polymorphism and RAS in any of the genetic models. However, subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed that the Caucasians were more likely to develop RAS in 4 genetic models (G vs C: OR?=?2.36, 95% CI?=?1.26-4.41, P?=?.01; GG vs CC: OR?=?7.05, 95% CI?=?3.50-14.18, P?=?.00; GG?+?CG vs CC: OR?=?4.28, 95% CI?=?2.17-8.45, P?=?.00; GG vs CG?+?CC: OR?=?2.59, 95% CI?=?1.05-6.41, P?=?.04). In addition, a significantly decreased risk of RAS susceptibility was found in Asians (CG vs CC: OR?=?0.27, 95% CI?=?0.07-0.99, P?=?.049; GG?+?CG vs CC: OR?=?0.27, 95% CI?=?0.07-0.98, P?=?.047). CONCLUSION:Our meta-analysis indicated that the IL10-1082?G/A polymorphism is associated with RAS susceptibility, especially in Asians. In contrast, the IL-6-174?G/C polymorphism does not have a statistically significant association with RAS susceptibility. However, it may play a different role during the development of RAS in different ethnicities.