Ulcers of the digestive system --- also known as peptic ulcers --- are painful open sores in the surface of the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. The Sippy Diet was developed in the early 20th century to help manage patients with digestive ulcers.
Peptic Ulcers
The human stomach contains high concentrations of peptic acid, which helps to digest food before it is passed on to the small intestine. In the digestive system, a layer of mucus protects the lining of the stomach, intestines and colon from the action of the acid. Increased acid levels or a decrease in the mucous layer can result in irritation of the lining and, eventually, in ulcers. Peptic ulcers are not only painful; they can cause bleeding, which in some cases can be very dangerous. H. pylori bacteria, which disrupts the mucous lining, and regular use of pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen can cause ulcers. Prescription medications used to treat osteoporosis---such as Actonel and Fosamax---can also lead to ulcers.
Medical Treatments for Ulcers
In the early part of the 20th century, the cause of peptic ulcer disease had not yet been discovered. In fact, as late as 1964, Hugo C. Moeller, presenting on "Conventional Dietary Treatment of Peptic Ulcer" at the Symposium on the Clinical Management of Peptic Ulcer --- Nutritional Aspects, stated that despite afflicting approximately 5 to 10 percent of the adult male population in the United States and England, the cause of peptic ulcer was still unknown. Medical management consisted primarily of different dietary regimes and antacids. Moeller commented that while objective data on diet regimens had been difficult to obtain, one study found that patients on a "normal" diet did complain of more pain than those on a bland diet.
The Sippy Diet
The best known of the various bland diets --- still in use in 1964 --- was the Sippy Diet. The Sippy Diet was developed by Dr. Bertram Welton Sippy, an American physician who also studied in Europe. Sippy promoted a strict regimen utilizing milk, cream and antacids. The theory behind this diet was that the combination both protected the mucosal lining and neutralized the peptic acid. The diet consisted of hourly feedings of generous amounts of milk and cream, with antacids, such as calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, given either on the half hour or sometimes with the milk and cream. The remainder of the diet was limited to bland foods --- no spices, high roughage items, or caffeine. An article in the April 2005 issue of "Gastroenterology" notes that while it had been used by a generation of physicians and many found the Sippy Diet effective in hastening peptic ulcer healing, it did little to prevent recurrence of ulcers.
Considerations and Warnings
Peptic ulcer disease can be painful, and in the case of large bleeding ulcers, potentially life-threatening. Since some medications can foster the development of peptic ulcers, it is wise to be aware of the potential side effects of any medications you are taking; this includes over-the-counter medicines. If you have symptoms of peptic ulcer disease, you should discuss them with your health care professional.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Diseases and Conditions: Peptic Ulcer, Mayo Clinic staff, January 6, 2011
- "Gastroenterology": Sippy of the Sippy diet Regimen, William S. Haubrich, M.D., April 2005
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Conventional Dietary Treatment of Peptic Ulcer, Hugo C. Moeller, MD, PhD, October 1964
