Greg Sawyer, D. C.
Yesterday when reading the new PubMed publications a new trial results caught my attention. It was another proof that drugs side effects can be omitted while holistic modalities and approaches may be selected. Here is in short what this study discovered. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common esophageal disorders.
Accumulating clinical evidence by conventional medicine has confirmed the efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with all grades of GERD, making these agents the allopathic mainstay of treatment. However, the possible impact of changes in body weight (BW) or body mass index (BMI) in reflux patients while on long-term PPI therapy proved the possible weight gain from long-term treatment with PPI (Yoshikawa, Nagato, Yamasaki, Kume & Otsuki, 2009). The clinical research team from Japan elucidated the effect on nutritional parameters such as body weight and BMI in patients receiving long-term PPI therapy. Their study was published on October 14, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. The subjects were 52 patients with GERD and 58 healthy controls. GERD patients were treated with PPI for a mean of 2.2 years (range, 0.8-5.7 years), and also advised on lifestyle modifications (e.g. selective diet, weight management). BW, BMI and other parameters were measured at baseline and end of study. Their results showed there were no differences in BW and BMI between reflux patients and controls at baseline. Patients with GERD showed increases in BW, but no such changes were noted in the control group. Mean BW increased by 3.5 kg (6.2% of baseline) in 37 (71%) reflux patients but decreased in only 6 (12%) patients during treatment.
They concluded that reflux patients treated with a daily maintenance therapy of PPI should be strongly encouraged to manage their body weight through lifestyle modifications such as proper diet and avoidance of overeating. This measure may reduce the overall medical costs associated with obesity-related illness as well as GERD. Lifestyle modification must therefore remain the backbone of treatment for all patients with GERD, even in the PPI era. If you suffer from occasional indigestion, constipation, gas, irritable bowel syndrome or other digestive complaints, simple changes to your diet and how you manage stress can help. In addition, prudent supplementation can also be effective - the following have been found to help promote healthy digestion:
1. Add probiotics. These products contain "friendly" bacteria that can stabilize the digestive tract and aid indigestion.
2. Take plant-derived digestive enzymes. For example, bromelain, derived from pineapples, and papain from papaya when taken with food can help digest specific nutrients.
3. Consider artichoke-leaf extract. It may help relieve indigestion by increasing bile flow needed to digest fats.
4. Try a deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). This herbal extract can soothe and protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
5. Slippery elm comes from the inner bark of the red elm tree. It is soothing and protective for inflamed mucosal tissue.
6. Chamomile can be used as a tea or an extract and is known to be calming for the stomach.
7. Keep a food and beverage journal.
8. Eat small, but frequent meals.
9. Wear loose clothing.
10. Maintain a healthy weight.
11. Avoid lying down immediately after eating.
12. Practice relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises.
13. Try sleeping on your left side. This may help move acid away from the entrance of the esophagus.
Reference:
Yoshikawa I, Nagato M, Yamasaki M, Kume K, Otsuki M. Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitor is associated with undesired weight gain. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15, 4794-4798 Retrieved on line, 26 October, 2009, from: http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/15/4794.asp
1. Add probiotics. These products contain "friendly" bacteria that can stabilize the digestive tract and aid indigestion.
2. Take plant-derived digestive enzymes. For example, bromelain, derived from pineapples, and papain from papaya when taken with food can help digest specific nutrients.
3. Consider artichoke-leaf extract. It may help relieve indigestion by increasing bile flow needed to digest fats.
4. Try a deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). This herbal extract can soothe and protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
5. Slippery elm comes from the inner bark of the red elm tree. It is soothing and protective for inflamed mucosal tissue.
6. Chamomile can be used as a tea or an extract and is known to be calming for the stomach.
7. Keep a food and beverage journal.
8. Eat small, but frequent meals.
9. Wear loose clothing.
10. Maintain a healthy weight.
11. Avoid lying down immediately after eating.
12. Practice relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises.
13. Try sleeping on your left side. This may help move acid away from the entrance of the esophagus.
Reference:
Yoshikawa I, Nagato M, Yamasaki M, Kume K, Otsuki M. Long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitor is associated with undesired weight gain. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15, 4794-4798 Retrieved on line, 26 October, 2009, from: http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/15/4794.asp
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, please call and require a personal consultation: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
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