Background/aim: This study aimed to identify the most useful components of Elental® in the treatment of 5-fluorouracil (FU)-induced mucositis and salivary gland atrophy in mice.
Materials and methods: Mice (except the control group) were intraperitoneally injected with 5-FU. The mice received saline (control group and 5-FU group), dextrin (Dextrin group), amino acids (17AA group), or Elental® (Elental® group).
Results: The volume and weight of salivary glands was higher in 17AA and Elental® groups compared to 5-FU group. The number of mucous glands was higher, whereas the number of damaged granular ductal epithelial cells was lower in the salivary glands of all groups except the 5-FU group. Salivation was also decreased in the 5-FU group compared to the other groups.
Conclusion: Amino acids could be the most effective components of Elental® for protecting mouse salivary glands from 5-FU-induced atrophic changes, and might be useful in the treatment of oral mucositis in cancer patients.
Keywords: 5-flurouracil; Salivary gland; amino acid; elemental diet; oral mucositis.
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