The effect of a pectin-lecithin complex on prevention of gastric mucosal lesions induced by feed deprivation in ponies.

The researchers conducted an experiment to determine the effectiveness of a pectin-lecithin complex product in preventing gastric lesions caused by intermittent feed deprivation in ponies. They found that the product, Pronutrin, failed to prevent these lesions.

Study Design

• Eight ponies were part of the study.
• The ponies acted as their own controls in two trials using a protocol of intermittent feed deprivation, designed to cause increased gastric acidity and create gastric lesions.
• The feed deprivation schedule consisted of 72 hours total deprivation, alternating between 24 hours with no feed and 24 hours with hay provided freely.
• There was a 4-week interval between these trials to allow the animals to rest.
• Ponies were then randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving 250g Pronutrin plus 200g pelleted feed, and one receiving only 450g of pelleted feed.
• The ponies were conditioned to the treatment for 7 days beforehand.
• The treatment was administered once daily during the deprivation protocol.
• Gastroscopy, a method of inspecting the stomach, was performed at the beginning and end of the protocol.

Pronutrin Trial Results

• The gastroscopy at the beginning of the study showed normal gastric mucosa for most ponies except for two with squamous mucosal erosion and one with glandular mucosal erosion.
• After 72 hours of cumulative feed deprivation, almost every pony developed erosions or ulcers in the stomach’s squamous mucosa.
• One pony did not develop lesions in one of the trials.
• The difference between the groups in terms of the presence or severity of gastric lesions was statistically insignificant (P = 0.6).
• Regardless of treatment, lesions did not develop in the gastric glandular mucosa due to the intermittent feed deprivation.

Conclusion

• The data shows that the pectin-lecithin complex, Pronutrin, is not effective in preventing lesions in the gastric squamous mucosa caused by intermittent feed deprivation in ponies.
• The fact that no difference was found between the two groups suggests that Pronutrin did not have a significant protective effect against the development of gastric lesions.