Abstract:

Objective     To evaluate short real-time effect of different concentrations of tea on gastroesophageal reflux. Methods      57 patients were divided into four groups A, B, C and D. A randomized self-control together with blank-control trail was applied. Using combined esophageal multichannel intruluminal impedance and pH monitoring, patients drank different kinds of tea immediately after lunch, and they were tested during 2h after tea drinking and compared with 2h after breakfast without tea. Tested indexes included esophageal acid exposure time, gastroesophageal reflux episodes, acid clear time and symptoms. Results     Group A(15 patients, 3g tea) and group D(12 patients,  drinking water) had no significant difference in all indexes between 2h after tea drinking and 2h without tea(P>0.05).  In group B(15 patients, 6g tea) and group C(15 patients, 9g tea), weakly acidic reflux episodes, non-acid reflux episodes, mixed reflux episodes, total reflux episodes and acid clear time in the Z1 channel significantly increased after tea drinking compared with 2h without tea and groups A and D(P<0.05). In group C, percentages of pH<4 after tea drinking, acidic reflux episodes and acid clear time in Z2 and Z3 channels were all greatly increased after tea drinking compared with 2h without tea and groups A,B and D(P<0.05). No difference in clinical symptoms was found between pre-and post-drinking in each group and among the four groups(P>0.05). Conclusion     Drinking weak tea has no effect on gastroesophageal reflux in a short time. Drinking strong tea may give rise to higher esophageal acid exposure, more reflux episodes and longer acid clear time.

Key words: Tea; Gastroesophageal reflux; Multichannel intruluminal impedance