PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF FISH-OIL AGAINST STRESS-INDUCED GASTRIC INJURY IN RATS

The effect of fish oil and olive oil on the gastric mucosal damage ind uced by cold-restraint str ess !:as investigated in rats. The oils wer e dietary supplemented for 3 weeks. The results demonstrate that a die t containing fish oil when ingested for 3 weeks before exposure to str ess, protected from gastric ulceration significantly (p < 0.01) and le d to a statistically significant increase both in mucus and phospholip id con tent of the gastric mucosal barrier (p < 0.02 and p < 0.001, re sp.) in cold-restraint stress-induced gastric injury in rats. However; further studies are required to determine the role of dietary fish oi ls in the prophylaxis and treatment of peptic ulcer.