Histological effect of certain pickles on the human gastric mucosa. A preliminary report.

The histological effects of several types of pickles and control substances were assessed by repeated suction (per os) biopsies of the gastric antrum in three healthy men. The ingestion of 30 ounces of fukujinzuke (assorted vegetables pickled in soy sauce) or of vinegared gherkins over a three-day period caused marked changes in the surface epithelium and gastric pits in all three subjects. The abnormalities consisted of loss of cellular mucus, nuclear enlargement, prominent nuclear chromatin and an increased number of mitotic figures. All control biopsies were normal, as were biopsies after the ingestion of 30 ounces of raw carrots or cucumbers over a three-day period. This study shows that eating a sufficient quantity of certain types of pickles causes marked changes in the human stomach. Peroral suction biopsy of the gastric antrum appears to be a practical method for testing the effect of various foods on the human gastric mucosa.