title: An old dietary regimen as a new lifestyle change for Gastro esophageal reflux disease: A pilot study.
abstract: Treatment of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is becoming a challenge for medical profession. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly recommended but many disadvantages of these drugs are being reported, particularly when used for long term. Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) are important cause of acid reflux. Gastric distention in upper stomach is the strongest stimulus for generation of TLESRs and is aggravated by intake of food in between meals. In an earlier cases report, two meals a day with intake of only fluids in between was suggested as a remedy for GERD. Present pilot study was conducted on 20 patients with endoscopically proven reflux esophagitis (Los Angles Grade a, b or c), who followed our advice to take meal twice a day with consumption of only soft drinks (fruit juices, tea, coffee, water, etc) in between and no medication for two weeks. On 14th day 15 patients (75%) were free of reflux symptoms, 2 (10%) had partial improvement and 3 (15%) reported no difference. It is concluded that two meals a day with intake of only fluids in between, whenever the patient feels hungry or thirsty, is a useful dietary regimen for the management of GERD. Further investigations are needed to confirm the benefits of this physiological lifestyle change.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Consultation Studies, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Akram
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Randhawa
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy Department, King Faisal Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Salah Al-Din Mahmoud
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mahfouz
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy Department, King Faisal Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Noor Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Selim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Taley
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yar
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sacred Heart Hospital, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillessen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects