Nutrients Consumption Affect the Number of Gastroesophageal Refluxes and Oesophageal Acidity in Children

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate the correlation between types and number of gastroesophageal refluxes and nutrients consumption in children and adolescents. MethodsThe study was approved by IEC. The data of examination of 219 children (7–17 y.o.), 147 with GERD and 72 controls served as a source for the study. The amount and types of GER were determined using 24-hours esophageal pH-impedansometry (Ohmega, MMS, The Netherlands). Food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate level of nutrients consumption. To make possible comparison of data obtained in different age and sex groups of children, direct levels of nutrients consumption were converted to a percentage deviation from the recommended daily allowance rates. Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed with the use of Statistica 10 (StatSoft Inc., USA) to reveal association between usual nutrition and number of gastroesophageal reflux episodes, their acidity and duration in children. ResultsStatistically significant (p < .05) correlation of Acid exposure time was found with amounts of PUFA (Spearman R = –0.334), ω-3 (R = –0.33), ω-6 (R = –0.3); retinols (R = –0.34), niacin (R = –0.28) and ascorbic acid (R = –0.37) consumption. The number of acid refluxes correlated with energy values of the ration (R = 0.269), amount of total protein (R = 0.279), total fat (R = 0.272), total carbohydrates (R = 0.152), and added sugar (R = 0.157) consumption. The number of weak-acid refluxes was not correlated with any of the parameters of actual nutrition. We found significant correlation between the number of non-acid refluxes and amount of PUFAs (R = 0.19), ω-6 (R = 0.151), ω-3 (R = 0.19); sodium (R = 0.158), phosphorus (R = 0.166), vitamin B1 (R = 0.17), niacin (R = 0.19), and ascorbic acid (0.23). ConclusionsWe found that types and number of gastroesophageal refluxes, as well as acidification of the lower part of oesophagus may be associated with diet in children. Our results may mean that different nutrients have different impact on esophageal motility in children. The results may have practical outcome for planning non-pharmacological intervention in children with GERD Funding SourcesMinistry of Science and Hiigher Education of Russia, research project #0529–2019-0055.