Premium
Effect of repeated oral administration of hypertonic electrolyte solution on equine gastric mucosa
Author(s) -
HOLBROOK T. C.,
SIMMONS R. D.,
PAYTON M. E.,
MacALLISTER C. G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516405775314880
Subject(s) - medicine , crossover study , tonicity , electrolyte , placebo , oral administration , exacerbation , gastroenterology , anesthesia , gastric mucosa , stomach , chemistry , pathology , alternative medicine , electrode
Summary Reasons for performing study : Electrolyte supplementation is common in horses during endurance competitions, but the effect on the gastric mucosa is unknown. Hypothesis : Repeated oral administration of hypertonic electrolyte solution is associated with exacerbation of gastric ulcers in mature horses. Methods : The study design was a randomised, blinded, crossover trial. Fourteen horses were divided randomly into equal groups and administered either 60 ml water (placebo) or 56.7 g commercial electrolyte supplement mixed with 60 ml water by dose syringe orally once an hour for 8 h. The minimum concentration of individual constituent electrolytes/28.35 g dry commercial product used was: sodium (5528 mg); chloride (11,886 mg); potassium (3657 mg); calcium (754 mg); and magnesium (153 mg). Gastric lesions were scored prior to and after oral treatments, and analysis of variance procedures were then performed. Results : Administration of hypertonic electrolytes resulted in a significant increase in mean ulcer number (P = 0.0174) and severity (P = 0.0006) scores in the nonglandular stomach. Mean ulcer number score was 3.6 and mean ulcer severity score 2.7 after hypertonic electrolyte treatment. Conclusions : Oral hypertonic electrolyte administration to horses in this model was associated with exacerbation of gastric ulcers. Potential relevance : Our findings suggest that one schedule of electrolyte supplementation used commonly in endurance horses may be harmful to the gastric mucosa.