Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition where the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), does not close properly.  This results in the stomach contents leaking back into the esophagus which causes heartburn and acid indigestion.¹  It is estimated that as many as 1 in 4 Americans suffer from GERD.²

 

If the inflammation from GERD lasts long enough, bleeding and ulcers can occur.  Severe cases of GERD results in a condition called Barrett's esophagus, where cells in the esophageal lining take on an abnormal shape and color, which over time can lead to cancer.

 

Now a new study³ has found that dietary changes, especially increasing fiber and decreasing fat intake, may help alleviate GERD symptoms.  In the study, 371 employees as a GERD research center, 103 of whom had a clinical diagnosis of GERD, completed a questionnaire regarding the onset, frequency, and severity of their GERD symptoms as well as a food questionnaire assessing their food intake over the previous year.

 

They found that the 103 individuals with GERD had “significantly higher” daily intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.  In addition, GERD patients had a higher percentage of their energy derived from dietary fat and larger average fat servings than people without GERD.  They found that fiber intake, however, was inversely related with the risk of GERD.

 

For the researchers, "high dietary fat intake was associated with an increased risk of GERD symptoms and erosive esophagitis while high fiber intake correlated with a reduced risk of GERD symptoms”, though they failed to give any recommendations on fat and fiber intake that would minimize GERD symptoms.

 

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