Dr. Gary’s Nutritional Library

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is becoming more common. The symptoms include heartburn, return of stomach contents up the esophagus, trouble swallowing, coughing, hoarseness and/or chest pain. With GERD, gastric contents, including stomach acid (hydrochloric acid,) are forced up into the esophagus.
The most common GERD treatment at this time is with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) such as the drug omeprazole. PPI medications reduce acid production. PPI drugs do have side effects; but, there is concern that chronic PPI medications can be carcinogenic.

This study was done to see if a combination of melatonin (6 mg.), l-tryptophan (200 mg.), vitamin B-6 (25 mg.), folic acid (10 mg.), vitamin B-12 (50 ug), methionine (100 mg.) and betaine (100 mg.) can relieve GERD, compared to omeprazole. One dose was given, daily. Melatonin inhibits gastric acid secretion and nitric oxide production. Nitric acid plays a role in relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. Some of the other supplements are anti-inflammatory and relieve pain.

The study was a single blind randomized study. A total of 351 patients were studied. Half of them received the supplements as listed above and half received 20 mg omeprazole. All patients kept a diary of their symptoms. All of the patients on the compound had complete relief of their symptoms in 40 days. Only 2/3rd of the patients on omeprazole had relief of their symptoms in 40 days. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: A combination of supplements, with tryptophan, methionine and melatonin, was 100% effective in relieving GERD.

PMID: 16948779.

Summary #295.

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You are entering the portion of the website of Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Inc., that is here “to strive to offer education”, as stated in our Mission Statement. Here we are reporting on scientific studies that are about the value of nutritional supplements and whole foods for our health. We will attempt to report on the latest studies regarding the supplements and foods sold at Rainbow Grocery. The summaries of the articles are our own. These summaries are not intended to promote any particular product or food that Rainbow sells, but only to provide information about them.

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Usted está entrando a la parte del portal de Internet de la Cooperativa de Rainbow Grocery, Inc. cuyo fin es “procurar ofrecer elementos educativos” tal como lo establece nuestra Declaración de Principios. Lo que aquí se reporta son estudios científicos sobre el valor nutricional de suplementos y alimentos completos para la salud. Trataremos de incluir los estudios más recientes sobre suplementos y productos alimenticios que se expenden en Rainbow Grocery. Los resúmenes de los artículos han sido elaborados por nosotros. Pero su inclusión no tiene como fin promover productos específicos que se venden en Rainbow, sino sólo proporcionar información sobre los mismos.

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