[The effect of glycine on the gastroduodenal tolerability of acetylsalicylic acid. An endoscopic, controlled double-blind study in healthy subjects].

In a randomized double-blind study the gastroduodenal tolerability of daily 500 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, CAS 50-78-2) in combination with 250 mg glycine (CAS 56-40-6) (Godamed) and 500 mg ASA without addition of glycine were evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers giving upper GI-endoscopy. Both ASA-preparations have been taken over a period of 4 weeks. Endoscopic controls were performed at entry, and repeated after 7, 14 and 28 days of treatment. Both ASA-preparations induced comparable gastroduodenal damages during the whole test period: The lesions score of both groups on day 7, 14 and day 28 was almost identical. In contrast to plain ASA, where 9 of 10 volunteers reported gastrointestinal side effects, all subjects receiving ASA in combination with glycine did not complain from any dyspeptic symptoms, i.e. epigastric pain etc. The reasons for the apparent better tolerability of ASA in combination with glycine are discussed.