title: The effect of decaffeination of coffee on gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with reflux disease often complain of heartburn after ingestion of coffee. Induction of gastro-oesophageal reflux has been demonstrated by pH-metry following the intake of coffee in healthy volunteers. The reflux was reduced when the coffee had undergone a decaffeination process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of decaffeination of coffee on reflux in patients with reflux disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen reflux patients underwent two osesophageal 3-h pH measurements. The patients received, in a double-blind study design in a randomized order, 300 mL of either regular or decaffeinated coffee together with a standardized breakfast. The fraction time oesophageal pH < 4 was calculated during the three postprandial hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For regular coffee the fraction time was calculated to a median of 17.9% with a range of 0.7-56.6%. The fraction time was significantly reduced to 3.1% (0-49.9%) after ingestion of decaffeinated coffee.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amount of gastro-oesophageal reflux induced by the intake of regular coffee in patients with reflux disease can be reduce by the decaffeination of coffee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pehl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wendl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaess
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine