Prevent Disease.com - Fat Worsens Heartburn Without Raising Acid Level



		Fat Worsens Heartburn Without Raising Acid Level Excerpt By Suzanne Rostler, Reuters Health NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who suffer from heartburn are often told to limit their intake of fat, which can exacerbate their condition. But according to new research, high-fat meals do not actually increase levels of acid in the intestine. Rather, they intensify the sensation of heartburn through another mechanism that is not yet clear. ``Until now, the alternative hypothesis (that fat in the small intestine might increase the perception of heartburn without causing acid reflux) has never been tested but our results strongly support this idea,'' Dr. Emeran A. Mayer from the University of California, Los Angeles and co-authors conclude. Heartburn is a painful sensation that occurs in the chest when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. This backup is known as acid reflux. The study authors suggest that nerves in the small intestine may release signals in response to fatty acids, and that these signals may alter a person's threshold for pain and discomfort. However, further studies should investigate the mechanism by which fat appears to worsen symptoms of heartburn, they note in the November issue of Gut. The preliminary study included 11 people aged 28 to 74 years who suffered from painful heartburn. Patients took acid-suppressing drugs and fasted overnight. Then, researchers injected patients with incremental doses of hydrochloric acid that contained either a salt solution or small amounts of fat. Higher acid levels overall hastened the start and intensity of symptoms but fat appeared to increase the speed and severity of heartburn symptoms even more, the report indicates. ``It would seem that many patients will already know from experience that fatty foods such as pizza, cheese, etc. are likely to increase their typical symptoms. If they haven't done so by trial and error, decreasing the intake of any kind of fat should benefit many patients,'' Mayer told Reuters Health. SOURCE: Gut 2001;49:624-628. Reference Source 89 For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use PreventDisease.com's "Quick Prevention Resources".