THE EFFECT OF DECAFFEINATION OF COFFEE ON GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX IN PATIENTS WITH REFLUX DISEASE

Background: Patients with reflux disease often complain of heartburn a fter ingestion of coffee. Induction of gastro-oesophageal reflux has b een demonstrated by pH-metry following the intake of coffee in healthy volunteers. The reflux was reduced when the coffee had undergone a de caffeination process. The aim of this study was to investigate the eff ect of decaffeination of coffee on reflux in patients with reflux dise ase. Methods: Seventeen reflux patients underwent two oesophageal 3-h pH measurements. The patients received, in a double-blind study design in a randomized order, 300 mL of either regular or decaffeinated coff ee together with a standardized breakfast. The fraction time oesophage al pH < 4 was calculated during the three postprandial hours. Results: For regular coffee the fraction time was calculated to a median of 17 .9% with a range of 0.7-56.6%. The fraction time was significantly red uced to 3.1% (0-49.9%) after ingestion of decaffeinated coffee. Conclu sion: The amount of gastro-oesophageal reflux induced by the intake of regular coffee in patients with reflux disease can be reduced by the decaffeination of coffee.