title: Smectite reduces gastroesophageal reflux in newborn infants.
abstract: We assessed the efficacy of a natural clay (smectite) on the frequency and the duration of acid (pH less than 4) and very acid (pH less than 3) gastroesophageal reflux (GER) measured by 24-hour continuous pH recording (CPR). Twenty newborn infants were enrolled in this double-blind controlled study owing to pathological CPR in supine position. After inclusion, all the patients were maintained in the 30-degree elevated prone position and received either smectite (3 g/day; n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) for 7 days. On the 8th day, a second 24-hour CPR was performed in supine position. The postural therapy alone (placebo group) was followed by a significant decrease in the numbers of acid GER (p less than 0.05) during the second CPR. The combination of postural therapy and smectite treatment was followed by a decrease in the number of acid (p less than 0.05) and very acid GER (p = 0.01), the percentages of time spent at pH below 4 (p less than 0.05) and 3 (p less than 0.01) and the maximal duration of acid GER (p less than 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculté de Médecine, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gouyon
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boggio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fantino
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gillot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallin
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011403:Pronation; D017640:Silicates
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D017640:Silicates; C033214:Smectite