The adverse effects of elemental diets on tolerance for 5-FU toxicity in the rat

The effects of a group of elemental diets on the gastrointestinal toxicity of 5-FU in the Sprague-Dawley rat were evaluated. Diarrhea, stomatitis, hypoalbuminemia, and early deaths were more frequent in the animals on elemental diets than in those consuming standard rat chow. Sepsis and hypoalbuminemia were directly related to the extent of protein hydrolysis of the particular elemental diet.