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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2019; 33(5); 2280-2285; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15603

Evaluation of a Chinese herbal supplement on equine squamous gastric disease and gastric fluid pH in mares.

Abstract: Wei Le San (WLS) is a Chinese herbal formula comprised of 9 herbs selected for their putative anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: To evaluate the effects of WLS administration in horses with nonglandular gastric ulcers. Methods: Ten mixed breed mares (aged 7-21 years, 401-567 kg body weight). Methods: Experimental design was a blinded, prospective, 2-period crossover study. All horses received a placebo (25 mL dextrose-based syrup; n = 10) and the treatment (WLS, 5 g in 25 mL dextrose-based syrup; n = 10), administered twice daily. Horses underwent a 1-week, alternating feed-deprivation period to induce or worsen existing ulcers; treatment began on day 7. Gastroscopic examination was performed on d0, d6, and d35, with gastric fluid pH obtained on d6 and d35. Gastric ulcer scores assigned by 3 masked observers were averaged for each examination. Results: Ulcer number scores for horses treated with WLS (median = 0; range, 0-4) was not different from the untreated controls (median = 0.5; range, 0-4; P = .81) by the end of the treatment period. Ulcer severity score for treated horses (median = 0; range, 0-1) was also unchanged compared to the control group (median = 0.5; range, 0-1; P = .85). Gastric pH was not altered by either treatment, with a median of 2.1 (range, 1.9-4.1) for the horses treated with WLS and 2.8 (range, 1.6-7.2) in the untreated controls (P = .46). Conclusions: The experimental model used to induce gastric ulceration was unable to discern a difference between the herbal supplement and the placebo in normal horses.
© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-23 PubMed ID: 31441559PubMed Central: PMC6766511DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15603Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research conducted by the authors aimed to assess Chinese herbal supplement Wei Le San’s (WLS) impact on horses suffering from nonglandular gastric ulcers. The conducted study, however, found no significant difference between horses treated with the supplement and those receiving a placebo regarding ulcer severity, ulcer number scores, and gastric fluid pH.

Research Composition

  • The research conducted hinges on the use of a Chinese herbal formula called Wei Le San (WLS). The WLS has nine different herbs that are believed to have anti-inflammatory effects.
  • The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential changes brought about by administering WLS in horses suffering from nonglandular gastric ulcers.
  • Participants in this study were ten mixed breed mares of varying ages, from 7 to 21 years, with body weights ranging from 401 to 567 kilograms.

Methodology

  • The nature of the study was prospective, blinded, and based on a 2-period crossover design.
  • The horses underwent a 1-week period of alternating feed-deprivation designed to induce or worsen existing ulcers. From the 7th day, treatment began.
  • All the horses received a control placebo and an experimental treatment, which consisted of WLS mixed in a 25 mL dextrose-based syrup, administered twice every day.
  • To chart progress and evaluate results, a gastroscopic exam was taken before treatment began, after six days, and finally on the 35th day. The gastric fluid pH levels were also recorded on the 6th and the 35th day.

Results

  • No significant change was observed in the ulcer number scores between WLS treated horses and untreated control group. Similarly, the ulcer severity score between the two groups showed no significant difference.
  • The pH levels in the gastric fluid remained unchanged between the horses treated with WLS and the untreated controls.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that for the model used in the experiment, the herbal supplement WLS yielded no discernable benefits when compared to placebo in treating gastric ulcers in normal horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Munsterman AS, Dias Moreira AS, Marqués FJ. (2019). Evaluation of a Chinese herbal supplement on equine squamous gastric disease and gastric fluid pH in mares. J Vet Intern Med, 33(5), 2280-2285. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15603

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
Pages: 2280-2285

Researcher Affiliations

Munsterman, Amelia S
  • Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Dias Moreira, Ana Sofia
  • Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Marqués, Fernando J
  • Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / administration & dosage
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Food Deprivation
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / chemistry
  • Gastroscopy / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Prospective Studies
  • Stomach Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
  • Dr. Xie's Jing Tang Herbal TCVM Grant
  • University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Companion Animal Research Fund

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Vokes J, Lovett A, Sykes B. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome: An Update on Current Knowledge. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 5;13(7).
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  2. Wang Y, Zheng L. Protocatechuic acid, the main effective monomer in Wuqi Powder, can inhibit gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid and Helicobacter pylori. Am J Transl Res 2023;15(1):151-164.
    pubmed: 36777827
  3. Hewetson M, Tallon R. Equine Squamous Gastric Disease: Prevalence, Impact and Management. Vet Med (Auckl) 2021;12:381-399.
    doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S235258pubmed: 35004264google scholar: lookup
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