Fischer rats (N=210) were given an injection of azoxymethane. They were then randomized to a standard AIN76 diet containing one of 19 laxative agents (5% w/w in most cases). Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were measured blindly after a 30-day treatment. Results from five sequential studies are shown after normalizing values to 100 for each control groups.
Area of circles matches groups’ size (large: 12 rats; small: 4 rats). Overlapping points were shifted verlapping to be more visible. Star indicates results different from control (Dunnet’s test). Unnamed small points: m: mannitol, l: lactulose, p: psyllium, o: paraffin oil, s: sorbitol, k: kaolin. Actual values of ACF (and of aberrant crypts) in the 5 control groups were 53 (119), 62 (139), 96 (200), 122 (264), 80 (172). Matching values in PEG-fed rats were 4 (8), 5 (8), 2 (6), 22 (39), 13 (23). Piroxicam and bisacodyl results are not shown on this figure (see text).