Effects of zinc-L-carnosine and vitamin E on aspirin-induced gastroduodenal injury in dogs

Background: Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs frequently cause gastrointestinal (GI) injury. Zinc‐l ‐carnosine has antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, mucosal protective, and healing properties in rodent models and in some human studies of GI injury. Hypothesis: The combination of zinc‐l ‐carnosine and vitamin E attenuates aspirin‐induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury. Animals: Eighteen healthy random‐source Foxhound dogs. Methods: In this randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study dogs were treated with placebo (n = 6; 0X group), 30 mg/30 IU (n = 6; 1X group), or 60 mg/60 IU (n = 6; 2X group) zinc‐l ‐carnosine/vitamin E orally every 12 hours for 35 days. Between Day 7 and 35, GI mucosal lesions were induced with aspirin (25 mg/kg PO q8h). Mucosal injury lesions (hemorrhage, erosion, and ulcer) were assessed by gastroduodenoscopy on Days 14, 21, and 35 with a 12‐point scoring scale. Results: At baseline (Day ?1) gastroscopy scores were not significantly different between groups (mean ± SD: 0X, 4.4 ± 0.8; group 1X, 4.4 ± 0.6; group 2X, 4.2 ± 0.3; P= .55). Gastroscopy scores increased significantly in all groups between Day ?1 and Days 14, 21, and 35 (P < .0001). On Day 35, gastroscopy scores were 29.2 ± 5.2 (0X), 27.3 ± 3.7 (1X), and 28.6 ± 3.3 (2X). Mean gastroscopy scores were not significantly different among treatment groups on any of the days (P= .61). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Administration of the combination of zinc‐l ‐carnosine and vitamin E at 1X or 2X dosing did not attenuate aspirin‐induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury.