Question

Peptic ulcer can be caused by

• A. Eating less food
• B. Eating normal food
• C. Prolonged starvation
• D. None of these

Hint:

While the options point to lifestyle factors, remember for your exams that the most common cause of peptic ulcers is a bacterial infection by *H. pylori*. This was a Nobel Prize-winning discovery.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus. It occurs when stomach acid damages the lining of the digestive tract. The question asks for a potential cause among the given lifestyle-related options.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The primary causes of peptic ulcers are now known to be an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and the long-term use of NSAID pain relievers (like ibuprofen). However, other factors can contribute to their development or exacerbate them. \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to digest food. The stomach lining is protected by a layer of mucus.} \\ \bullet & \text{During prolonged starvation, the stomach continues to produce acid, but there is no food to buffer or neutralize it.} \\ \bullet & \text{This excess, unneutralized acid can erode the protective mucous layer and damage the stomach lining, leading to gastritis and potentially the formation of an ulcer.} \\ \bullet & \text{"Eating less food" might have a similar, but less severe, effect. "Eating normal food" is generally not a cause.} \\ \end{array}\] Therefore, among the choices provided, prolonged starvation is the most plausible cause.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Peptic ulcer can be caused by prolonged starvation, as it leads to damage of the stomach lining by unneutralized stomach acid.