The protective effect of vitamin K in bile against the development of gastric mucosal lesions in mice fed a lithogenic diet

Abstract

The protective effect of vitamin K against the development of gastric mucosal lesions in mice fed a lithogenic diet containing 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid was studied. The results were as follows: (1) A significantly lower incidence of gastric mucosal lesions was found in mice given subcutaneous injections of 2 mg/kg of vitamin K 1 or K 2 but not in mice given vitamin K 3. (2) Taurocholate in the reflux bile in the stomach may be the major cause of gastric mucosal lesions in mice fed the lithogenic diet. (3) The addition of 0.08 mg/kg of vitamin K to the taurocholate solution, which was topically applied to the gastric mucosa, lowered the incidence of lesions. The protective effect of vitamin K against the development of taurocholate-induced gastric lesions increased with the dosage of the vitamin, but the vitamin's protective effect varied according to the differences in its chemical structure. Vitamin K 1 was the most effective, followed by k 2 and then by K 3. Vitamin K 1 and K 2 were more effective than aluminum hydroxide. It was concluded that the presence of vitamin K in the reflux bile in the stomach has a protective effect against the development of gastric mucosal lesions.