Riboflavin Deficiency and Gastric Ulcer Production in the Rat: A procedure for the study of susceptibility to stress-induced gastric ulcers

Abstract

The influence of riboflavin deficiency on the induction of gastric ulcer in the rat was studied. A procedure was developed by which it was possible to study the susceptibility of rats of the Wistar strain to stress-induced ulcerogenic processes. The procedure was innocuous for the well-nourished rat. Riboflavin deficiency made the Wistar rat susceptible to induced gastric ulcer formation, and the administration of riboflavin protected the rat from these lesions. General inanition appeared to play a minor role in the susceptibility of rats to the ulcerogenic process when they were stressed by the procedure described.