Chocolate and heartburn: evidence of increased esophageal acid exposure after chocolate ingestion.
Chocolate has been shown to decrease mean basal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, providing a rationale for the pathogenesis of chocolate-induced reflux symptoms. We assessed the relationship between chocolate ingestion and increased esophageal acid exposure using intraesophageal pH monitoring. Compared with ingestion of a dextrose control solution of similar volume, osmolality, and calories, postprandial ingestion of chocolate resulted in a significant increase in acid exposure in the first postprandial hour in patients with esophagitis. We conclude that this finding supports recommendations that patients with reflux esophagitis abstain from chocolate.
Murphy
D W
DW
Department of Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Castell
D O
DO
D000328:Adult; D002099:Cacao / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D010945:Plants, Edible