Journal of Health Sciences Perspective

en Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Aspirin-Induced Gastric Ulcer Healing and Oxidative Stress Markers in Rats Food Hygiene Food Hygiene گزارش مورد case report Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, are widely used but often induce gastric ulcers as a major side effect. This study aimed to investigate the protective and healing effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, against aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Materials & Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: an ulcer control group, two DHA-treated groups (low dose and high dose), and a group receiving omeprazole as a standard anti-ulcer agent. Ulcers were induced by oral administration of aspirin for three consecutive days, followed by 14 days of treatment. Results:  Macroscopic and histopathological evaluations revealed significant improvements in ulcer healing in DHA-treated groups, especially at the higher dose, with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, restored mucosal integrity, and normalized glandular architecture. Biochemical analyses demonstrated dose-dependent increases in antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT, along with significant reductions in oxidative (MDA) and inflammatory (MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) markers. DHA-H showed comparable or greater efficacy than omeprazole in reducing oxidative stress and IL-1β levels, though omeprazole remained more effective in ulcer area reduction. Conclusion:  DHA, particularly at higher doses, ameliorates aspirin-induced gastric injury by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. These findings suggest the potential of DHA as a complementary or alternative therapy to PPIs in managing NSAID-induced gastropathy, especially for patients unresponsive to or intolerant of standard treatments. While our study demonstrates the therapeutic potential DHA, the lack of signaling pathway analysis, such as NF-κB/NLRP3, limits mechanistic depth. Future studies should address this gap to validate molecular targets.   Omega 3, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Aspirin, Gastric ulcer, Healing, Oxidative stress 1 13 http://jhsp.medilam.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-57-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Hassan Valadbeigi hasan.valadbeigi@gmail.com 1003194753284600265 1003194753284600265 No Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. Mohammad Hossein Haddadi haddadi841@gmail.com 1003194753284600266 1003194753284600266 Yes Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.