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Walking and chewing reduce postprandial acid reflux
Author(s) -
Avidan B.,
Sonnenberg A.,
Schnell T. G.,
Sontag S. J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.00902.x
Subject(s) - postprandial , medicine , reflux , meal , gerd , gastroenterology , population , chewing gum , disease , food science , chemistry , environmental health , insulin
Background: Gastro‐oesophageal reflux is worse after meals, and antacids are usually consumed after dietary indiscretion. Aim: To investigate whether walking or gum chewing affect meal‐induced gastro‐oesophageal reflux. Methods: The study population comprised 12 case subjects with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and 24 healthy controls. Each subject was studied using pH‐metry for 5 h on 3 separate days. After baseline recording of pH for 1 h, all subjects were fed a standard breakfast over a 20‐min period. On one of the days, oesophageal pH was recorded after the 20‐min eating period for an additional 4 h in the sitting position. On another day, postprandial oesophageal pH was recorded for the first hour whilst walking, and for 3 subsequent hours whilst sitting. During a third day, oesophageal pH was recorded for the first postprandial hour whilst gum‐chewing, followed by 3 h of sitting. Results: Food intake promoted gastro‐oesophageal reflux in case subjects with GERD as well as in healthy controls, although postprandial reflux was more pronounced amongst the refluxers than amongst the controls. Chewing gum for 1 h after the meal reduced the acid contact time in both groups, with a more profound effect in refluxers than in controls. Whilst the beneficial effect of 1‐h of gum‐chewing lasted for up to 3 h in both groups, the beneficial effect of 1‐h of walking was apparent only in refluxers, only to a mild degree, and only for a short duration. Conclusions: Chewing gum after a meal helps to reduce postprandial oesophageal acid exposure.