Indomethacin: Relationship between Ulcerogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties/I. Effects of an Intestinal Lesion-Preventing Fat-Free Diet on Anti-Edema and Anti-Granuloma Properties of Indomethacin in the Rat

Abstract

The anti-edema properties of ulcerogenic doses of indomethacin were due to the concomitant influence of specific (anti-inflammatory) and nonspecific (presence of intestinal lesions) effects. The fat-free diet (FFD) prevented and/or reduced the incidence and degree of indomethacin-induced intestinal lesions without reducing, but rather enhancing, anti-inflammatory activity through a specific effect. These findings are at variance with the hypothesis that anti-inflammatory activity and side effects of indomethacin have a common denominator. The greater anti-inflammatory activity displayed by indomethacin in FFD as compared to regular diet (RD)-fed rats might be attributed to differences in body distribution of the drug. Feeding a fat free or a low fat diet might reduce nonspecific anti-inflammatory induced gastrointestinal disturbances without reducing therapeutic efficacy.