Effects of dietary oils on the development of gastric ulcers in mares

Abstract

Objective - To assess antiulcerogenic properties of 3 dietary oils. Animals - 8 healthy adult mares. Procedure - 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 × 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 and clinical relevance - In this model dietary oils did not prevent gastric ulcers from forming in the nonglandular portion of the stomach of horses.