Effect of a pelleted supplement fed during and after omeprazole treatment on nonglandular gastric ulcer scores and gastric juice pH in horses

Abstract

Summary Gastric ulcers are common in horses. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of a commercially available supplement, SmartGut® Ultra pellets (SmGU) on gastric ulcer scores and gastric juice pH after omeprazole treatment in stall‐confined horses. Eight Thoroughbred horses were studied in a 2‐period, 2‐treatment crossover design, where the SmGU (40 g, twice daily) was mixed in grain feed. Horses were stall‐confined and treated with the supplement or control for 6 weeks, consisting of 2 weeks (Days 1–14) omeprazole treatment, 2 weeks (Days 14–28) following discontinuation of omeprazole treatment, one week (Days 28–35) alternating feed deprivation to induce or worsen existing ulcers and a one week (Days 35–42) recovery period. Gastroscopy was performed and gastric juice pH measured on Days 0, 14, 28, 35 and 42. Gastric ulcer lesion number (NGN) and severity (NGS) scores were assigned to each horse by an investigator (F.M.A.) masked to treatment. On Day 0 before treatment, mean NGN and NGS scores and gastric juice pH were not different (P>0.05) between treatment groups. By Day 14, mean NGN and NGS scores decreased (P<0.05) in both treatment groups. By Days 28 and 35, mean NGN score significantly increased in the untreated control horses but not the SmGU‐treated horses. By Day 42, mean NGN and NGS scores were not different in either group and were significantly lower than Day 0. Mean gastric juice pH was higher in both groups on Day 14 as a result of omeprazole treatment when compared with other days. SmartGut® Ultra supplement added to the feed prevented the worsening of gastric ulcer number 2 weeks after omeprazole treatment, without altering the gastric juice pH. Supplementation with SmGU might aid in protection of the nonglandular stomach from recurrence of ulcers after omeprazole treatment in stall‐confined horses undergoing intermittent feeding.

Gastric juicepHmeasurement in horses: Three‐quarters of a century of history!

“…In these studies, gastric juice was aspirated through the endoscope biopsy channel just prior to insufflation. In these studies gastric juice pH was significantly higher (pH >4.0) 17-19 h after the 14th daily dose of omeprazole (Andrews et al 2006b(Andrews et al , 2015Videla et al 2011;Huff et al 2012;Loftin et al 2012;Woodward et al 2014). The collection of gastric juice during the gastroscopic examination is relatively simple, but daily fluctuations in pH, pH profile or pH status in the fed state cannot be evaluated.…”

Nutritional management of gastric ulceration

“…12 h, decreased the number of squamous ulcers 14 days after omeprazole treatment was discontinued and during a week of intermittent feed‐deprivation (Andrews et al . ). Such supplements might be an alternative to long‐term use of pharmaceutical agents to protect the squamous mucosa from acid injury.…”

A Comparison Between Omeprazole and a Dietary Supplement for the Management of Squamous Gastric Ulceration in Horses

“…Sykes et al (2013) [21] reported that a combination of pectin-lecithin complex (Apolectol®), live yeast and magnesium hydroxide, when supplemented for [24][25][26][27] days reduced the severity of glandular and squamous gastric ulcers in Thoroughbred horses in race training. Andrews [22] reported that a supplement containing a number of ingredients, including pectin, lecithin, sea buckthorn and L-Glutamine may The aim of the current study was to examine the hypothesis that Succeed® is not inferior to omeprazole for the treatment of squamous ulceration in horses in race training over the course of 90 days. at the time of initiation of the trial.…”