The effect of decaffeination of coffee on gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux disease.
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.
Pehl
C
C
Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany.
Pfeiffer
A
A
Wendl
B
B
Kaess
H
H
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
D003069:Coffee; D002110:Caffeine