Effects of dietary oils on the development of gastric ulcers in mares.
OBJECTIVE
To assess antiulcerogenic properties of 3 dietary oils.


METHODS
8 healthy adult mares.


METHODS
A protocol to induce gastric ulcers was used and included 240 mL of water plus corn oil, refined rice bran oil, or crude rice bran oil administered each day for 6 weeks according to a 4 x 4 Latin square randomized crossover design with 5-week washout intervals. A 7-day alternating feed deprivation period was included between weeks 5 and 6. Omeprazole was administered daily for the last 14 days of each washout interval. Endoscopic examinations of the stomach were performed at 0, 5, and 6 weeks, and the number (0 to 4 scale) and severity (0 to 5 scale) of ulcers were scored. Gastric fluid was collected at 0 and 5 weeks.


RESULTS
Median body weight significantly increased by 29 kg (range, 10 to 50 kg). Mean +/- SE gastric fluid pH significantly decreased from 4.9 +/- 0.4 to 3.1 +/- 0.3 over 5 weeks, and total volatile fatty acid concentration significantly decreased over time. Mean +/- SE severity of nonglandular ulcers significantly increased from 0.4 +/- 0.1 to 1.2 +/- 0.2 over 5 weeks. Nonglandular ulcers significantly increased in number (mean +/- SE, 1.3 +/- 0.2 to 3.0 +/- 0.2) and severity (mean +/- SE, 1.2 +/- 0.2 to 2.6 +/- 0.2) during the 7-day alternating feed deprivation period. No effects of treatment were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
In this model dietary oils did not prevent gastric ulcers from forming in the nonglandular portion of the stomach of horses.
Frank
Nicholas
N
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996, USA.
Andrews
Frank M
FM
Elliott
Sarah B
SB
Lew
John
J
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000662:veterinary; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile