Walking and chewing reduce postprandial acid reflux

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux is worse after meals, and antacids ar e usually consumed after dietary indiscretion. Aim: To investigate whether walking or gum chewing affect meal-induced gast ro-oesophageal reflux. Methods: The study population comprised 12 case subjects with gastro-oesoph ageal reflux disease and 24 healthy controls. Each subject was studied usin g 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 fo r an additional 4 h in the sitting position. On another day, postprandial o esophageal pH was recorded for the first hour whilst walking, and for 3 sub sequent hours whilst sitting. During a third day, oesophageal pH was record ed for the first postprandial hour whilst gum-chewing, followed by 3 h of s itting. Results: Food intake promoted gastro-oesophageal reflux in case subjects wi th GERD as well as in healthy controls, although postprandial reflux was mo re 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 benef icial effect of 1-h of walking was apparent only in refluxers, only to a mi ld degree, and only for a short duration. Conclusions: Chewing gum after a meal helps to reduce postprandial oesophag eal acid exposure.