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Heartburn, coffee, chocolate & spices

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BCJacobson. et al. Body-mass index and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in women. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jun 1;354(22):2340–8.
HHampel. et al. Meta-analysis: obesity and the risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Aug 2;143(3):199–211.
YFujiwara. et al. Association between dinner-to-bed time and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Dec;100(12):2633–6.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2013

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In a nutshell

Many dietary factors have been blamed for contributing to gastroesophageal reflux. Overweight is clearly a risk factor, although we still lack RCTs to show that losing weight will improve symptoms or lower the linked oesophageal cancer risk.

Some evidence supports the idea that certain foods (e.g. chocolate, coffee, alcohol, spicy food) can aggravate it. Although not consistent evidence, a trial of avoidance may be appropriate.

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Brief Report
Information
Arbor Clinical Nutrition Updates , Volume 260 , September 2006, pp. 1 - 3
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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