American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 22, 1536-1542, Copyright © 1969 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Dietary Treatment in Duodenal Ulcer

¹ From the Veterans Administration Hospital and University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa

The 103 consecutive patients with active radiologically proved duodenal ulcer were given alternately regular and bland diets. Daily dietary observations included foods consumed, foods rejected and the reasons for rejection, and foods causing discomfort. With few exceptions, patients in both groups consumed nutritionally adequate diets. Ulcer patients placed on regular diets did not generally select a bland diet from the regular tray served them. Patients previously conditioned by dietary instructions more frequently rejected food items that were served only on the regular diet as well as food served normally on bland diets. Discomfort following ingestion of a few food items suggests the possibility of poor tolerance by some ulcer patients. Clinical response and rate of healing of duodenal ulcer were the same in the two groups.