Improvement of gastroesophageal reflux disease after initiation of a low-carbohydrate diet: five brief case reports
Yancy, W.S.; Provenzale, D.; Westman, E.C.
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 7(6): 120 116-9
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 1078-6791 PMID: 11712463 Document Number: 531080
The 5 individuals described in these case reports experienced resolution of GERD symptoms after self-initiation of a low-carbohydrate diet. Their observations suggest that carbohydrate restriction may have contributed to their symptom relief. However, this conclusion is confounded by concurrent reduction of caffeine intake in 3 of the individuals and reduction of acidic and high-osmolal food intake in all of them. Observations from some of these individuals suggest that carbohydrates may be a precipitating factor for GERD symptoms and that other classic exacerbating foods such as coffee and fat may be less pertinent when a low-carbohydrate diet is followed. However, these conclusions are preliminary. These findings primarily suggest that prospective research should be performed on the effect of low-carbohydrate diets on GERD symptoms. Trials that control for all of the confounders mentioned above and that contain objective endpoints are needed to further investigate these issues.