Abstract
Background
There are limited data on the effect of curry on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our objective was to study the effects of curry on GERD.
Methods
Symptomatic non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD) patients and healthy volunteers underwent ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH monitoring before consumption of either 400 or 800 ml of curry; they were monitored for 3 h thereafter for changes in esophageal pH and upper abdominal symptoms. Selected volunteers were monitored similarly after water ingestion.
Results
In total, 25 NERD patients (23 males; mean age, 45 years) and 19 volunteers (13 males; mean age, 22 years) participated. In both patients and volunteers, curry ingestion induced more esophageal acid exposure than did ingestion of a similar volume of water. Curry induced significantly more esophageal acid exposure in NERD patients than in volunteers. Upper abdominal symptoms and esophageal acid exposure were more severe and persisted longer in patients than in volunteers.
Conclusion
Curry induced more acid reflux and caused worse symptoms in patients with NERD than in healthy individuals. Patients with NERD should be advised to avoid curry ingestion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kang JY, Tay HH, Guan R. Chronic upper abdominal pain: site and radiation in various structural and functional disorders and the effect of various foods. Gut. 1992;33:743–748.
Yeoh KG, Ho KY, Guan R, Kang JY. How does chili cause upper gastrointestinal symptoms? A correlation study with esophageal mucosal sensitivity and esophageal motility. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1995;21:87–90.
Kaltenbach T, Crockett S, Gerson LB. Are lifestyle measures effective in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease? An evidence-based approach. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:965–971.
Lim LG, Ho KY. Gastroesophageal reflux disease at the turn of the millennium. World J Gastroenterol. 2003;9:2135–2136.
Ho KY, Kang JY, Seow A. Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in a multiracial Asian population, with particular reference to reflux-type symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol. 1998;93:1816–1822.
Ho KY, Kang JY. Prolonged ambulatory oesophageal pH and pressure recording in healthy adults in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 1998;39:295–299.
Milke P, Diaz A, Valdovinos MA, Moran S. Gastroesophageal reflux in healthy subjects induced by two different species of chilli (Capsicum annum). Dig Dis. 2006;24:184–188.
Ho KY, Kang JY. Esophageal mucosal acid sensitivity can coexist with normal pH recording in healthy adult volunteers. J Gastroenterol. 2000;35:261–264.
Acknowledgments
We wish to thank Dr Jennie Wong for her editorial assistance.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interest. This study was not funded by any grant.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lim, L.G., Tay, H. & Ho, K.Y. Curry Induces Acid Reflux and Symptoms in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Dig Dis Sci 56, 3546–3550 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1799-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-011-1799-3