Evaluation of various nutritional supplements in the prevention of stress-induced gastric ulcers in the rat.

We studied the effectiveness of various nutritional supplements in preventing stress-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Male rats were restrained on a board, divided into nine groups and orogastrically infused with one of four commercial nutritional supplements--25 per cent glucose solution, normal saline solution or antacids. The other groups received either cimetidine or no treatment. The rats, in this study, were sacrificed at the end of four hours, and all ulcers were counted. Any solution providing calories, including 25 per cent glucose solution, afforded significant protection against ulceration. While the antacids were better than no treatment, they were significantly worse than any nutritional supplement. It appears to be that luminal substrates markedly increase the ability of the gastric mucosa of the rat to resist ulceration.