Assessment of dietary nutrients that influence perception of intra-oesophageal acid reflux events in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
BACKGROUND
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms are most commonly reported postprandially, suggesting that some diet components are likely to induce symptoms more than others.


OBJECTIVE
To determine which of the various dietary nutrients is a strong predictive factor for symptom generation in association with an acid reflux event.


METHODS
Subjects with typical heartburn symptoms were evaluated by the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease Symptom Checklist, demographics questionnaire, upper endoscopy and pH testing. During the pH study, patients completed a detailed 24-h dietary intake record. This included time of meals, description of food components and the amount and type of food preparation.


RESULTS
Fifty gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients completed all stages of the study. A total of 112 (78%) symptoms were considered as sensed reflux event. Body mass index did not correlate with having perceived reflux. Patients who consumed more cholesterol, saturated fatty acids and had more percentage calories from fat were significantly more likely to experience a perceived reflux event. Regression analysis and beta-coefficient were specifically significant for cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Of all dietary nutrients, cholesterol enhances the most the perception of intra-oesophageal acid reflux events in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
Shapiro
M
M
Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, The Neuro-Enteric Clinical Research Group, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, AZ 85723-0001, USA.
Green
C
C
Bautista
J M
JM
Dekel
R
R
Risner-Adler
S
S
Whitacre
R
R
Graver
E
E
Fass
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors