Dry meals--physiological approach to management of duodenal ulcer

Two hundred and twenty endoscopically proved cases of duodenal ulcer were studied in a double blind manner by dividing them into control and study groups and following them up for one year. All patients were given ranitidine 150 mg bd for 3 months. Additionally, the study group patients were asked to take dry meals (they were allowed their normal diet but asked not to take water from 1 hour before meals to 1 hour after meals) for one year. The two groups of patients were compared. The recurrence rate at one year was lower in the study group. Nausea/vomiting at the time of recurrence was also significantly lower in the study group (p < 0.02). Relief in symptoms, especially nausea/vomiting and dyspepsia was also seen to be better in the study although the difference was not statistically significant. The fall in recurrence rate observed as a result of this simple regime is very encouraging.