Hypothesis: cis-unsaturated fatty acids as potential anti-peptic ulcer drugs

doi:10.1016/S0952-3278(98)90074-6

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids

Volume 58, Issue 5, May 1998, Pages 377-380

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0952-3278(98)90074-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

It is now reasonably well established that Helicobacter pylori is the most likely cause for duodenal ulcer. What is not clear is how this infection is related to the excess acid production, why few people with Helicobacter pylori infection have duodenal ulcer and how diet is related to duodenal ulcer. Here it is suggested that a deficiency of cisunsaturated fatty acids (otherwise called as polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs) especially gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid may be responsible for duodenal ulcer. Patients with active duodenal ulcer are known to have low concentrations of these PUFAs in their plasma phospholipid fraction and they revert to normal levels after treatment with H₂ blockers. In addition, these PUFAs have the ability to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, suppress acid production and both in experimental animals and humans these PUFAs could heal the ulcer and protect the gastric mucosa from aspirin and steroid-induced damage. Further, PUFAs have other beneficial actions such as capacity to prevent/arrest atherosclerosis, lower plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and cytotoxic action on tumour cells. Since PUFAs can be administered over long periods of time and are relatively non-toxic, it is suggested that PUFAs may be exploited as potential anti-ulcer agents.

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It is evident from the results of the present study that fish oil can suppress the growth of Helicobacter, Clostridiales, Sphingomonadales, Firmicutes, Pseudomonas sp. and several uncultured bacteria. These results are interesting because it is known that Helicobacter play a significant role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease, whereas Firmicutes in obesity and unsaturated fatty acids may be of benefit in peptic ulcer and obesity (47–56). Based on these results and the present study, it is reasonable to propose that n-3 fatty acids suppress the growth of gut microbiota that are associated with obesity and peptic ulcer disease and enhance the proliferation of beneficial bacteria.
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Hypothesis: cis-unsaturated fatty acids as potential anti-peptic ulcer drugs

Abstract

Lancet

Lancet

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Prostaglandins

Cancer Lett

Cancer Lett

Ulcers are an infectious disease

Science

Family studies of hypergastrinaemic, hyperpepsinogenaemic I duodenal ulcer disease

Ann Intern Med

pH dependence of acid secretior and gastrin release in normal and ulcer subjects

J Clin Invest

Clinical tests of gastric secretion

Campylobacter pyloridis in peptic ulcer disease: microbiology, pathology, and scanning electron microscopy

Gut

The trophic action of gastrointestinal hormones

Gastroenterology

Eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection lowers gastrin-mediated acid secretion by two-thirds in duodenal ulcer patients

Gut

Acid secretion and sensitivity to gastrin in patients with duodenal ulcer: Effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Gut