Fiber diet and antacids in the short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer.
Eighty patients with active duodenal ulcer were randomized to a diet poor or rich in fiber for a treatment period of 4 weeks. In addition, all patients received one antacid tablet (Link, 1.1 g) four times a day (total neutralizing capacity, 120 mmol HCl/day). The ulcer healed in 27 (67.5%) of the 40 patients in the high-fiber group, compared with in 24 (60%) of the 40 patients in the low-fiber group (p less than 0.5). Ulcer symptoms did not differ significantly between groups during the 4-week treatment period. No serious side effects were recorded. Constipation, the most frequently registered side effect, was seen in 11 (27.5%) of the patients in the low-fiber group, compared within 4 (10%) in the high-fiber group (chi-square = 4.0; p less than 0.05). Patients with unhealed ulcer after 4 weeks' treatment received ranitidine instead of antacids. While they were receiving ranitidine treatment, no significant differences in healing rates were seen between the two dietary groups.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation
D000863:Antacids; D004043:Dietary Fiber; C005479:magnesium carbonate; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D008274:Magnesium