Title

Chocolate and Heartburn: Evidence of Increased Esophageal Acid Exposure after Chocolate Ingestion.

Authors

Murphy, Daniel W.; Castell, Donald O.

Abstract

Chocolate has been shown to decrease mean basal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, providing a rationale for the pathogenesis of chocolate-induced reflux symptoms. We assessed the relationship between chocolate ingestion and increased esophageal acid exposure using intraesophageal pH monitoring. Compared with ingestion of a dextrose control solution of similar volume, osmolality, and calories, postprandial ingestion of chocolate resulted in a significant increase in acid exposure in the first postprandial hour in patients with esophagitis. We conclude that this finding supports recommendations that patients with reflux esophagitis abstain from chocolate.

Subjects

CHOCOLATE; SPHINCTERS; DEXTROSE; ESOPHAGOGASTRIC junction; GASTROESOPHAGEAL reflux

Publication

American Journal of Gastroenterology (Springer Nature), 1988, Vol 83, Issue 6, p633

ISSN

0002-9270

Publication type

Academic Journal