THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF VITAMIN-K IN BILE AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF GASTRIC-MUCOSAL LESIONS IN MICE FED A LITHOGENIC DIET

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 K1 or K2 but not in mice given vitamin K3. (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 K1 was the most effective, followed by k2 and then by K3. Vitamin K1 and K2 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. © 1990 Pergamon Press plc.