title: The role of a defined formula diet in the prevention of stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in the rat.
abstract: The role of a defined formula diet, Vivonex HN, in the prevention of gastric mucosal injury was evaluated in the cold, restrained rat model. The mean grade of gastric bleeding and mean number of gastric lesions were 3.95 and 7.35 +/- 1.02, respectively, in the stressed, unprotected control group. In four random groups of rats given Vivonex HN, Maalox, Cimetidine (20 mg/kg) and Cimetidine (60 mg/kg) prior to stress, the mean grade of gastric bleeding was 0; 1.55; 2.33; 1.75; and the mean number of gastric lesions was 0; 1.2 +/0 0.31; 2.83 +/0 0.82; 2.2 +/- 0.65, respectively. The differences were statistically significant. Our experiments show that Vivonex HN was more effective than Maalox or Cimetidine in high dose in preventing gastric bleeding and gastric mucosal lesions in the cold, restrained rat. Cimetidine in a standard dose was the least protective. Clinical trials are needed to establish the role of Vivonex HN in the prevention of stress ulcers in patients at risk.
mesh_terms: D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005503:Food Additives; D005526:Food, Formulated; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005503:Food Additives; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C013591:aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, drug combination; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D002927:Cimetidine; C011567:Vivonex; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide