Cytoprotective effect of vitamin A and its clinical importance in the treatment of patients with chronic gastric ulcer.
The effects of vitamin A were studied on the basal and maximal gastric secretory responses of 12 patients; and on healing in 60 patients with chronic gastric ulcer. The effect of vitamin A on ulcer healing was evaluated by a multiclinical, multicentre, randomized, prospective study in which the patients were divided into three groups. In group A the patients were treated with antacids only; in group B the patients were given antacids plus vitamin A (in doses of 3 X 50.000 U orally); and in group C the patients received antacids, vitamin A plus cyproheptadine (in doses of 3 X 4 mg orally). The treatment lasted four weeks. At the beginning and the end of treatment endoscopies were performed and ulcer sizes were measured planimetrically. Various other parameters such as ulcer index, antacid consumption and laboratory parameters were also evaluated during the four-week treatment. It was observed that: (i) vitamin A (given in doses of 100.000 U i.m.) decreased neither basal nor maximal gastric secretory responses; (ii) the number of patients with completely healed gastric ulcer was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in groups B and C than in group A; (iii) the extent of ulcer reduction was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in groups B and C than in group A; (iv) no significant changes were observed in ulcer index and antacid consumption during the four-week treatment in the different groups of patients; (v) the reduction of ulcer size was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) in the group treated with antacids plus vitamin A than in the group treated with antacids only, at two weeks of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000863:Antacids; D014801:Vitamin A; D003533:Cyproheptadine