White wine and beer induce gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux disease.

Background: An induction of gastro-oesophageal reflux has been reported after ingestion of alcoholic beverages in healthy volunteers. However, it is unknown whether reflux in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients will be enhanced by the ingestion of alcoholic beverages.

Aim: To investigate the effects of wine and beer on postprandial reflux in reflux patients.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (reflux oesophagitis 15, non-erosive reflux disease 10; 18 men and seven women) drank 300-mL white wine (n = 17), 500-mL beer (n = 8), or identical amounts of tap water (controls) together with a standardized meal in a randomized order. pH-measurement was carried out during three postprandial hours by pH-metry and the percentage of time pH < 4 was calculated.

Results: Both alcoholic beverages increased reflux compared with water [wine 23% (median), water 12%, P < 0.01; beer 25%, water 11%, P < 0.05]. Between wine and beer, no difference in reflux induction was obtained. The reflux induction was seen in patients with (23%, P < 0.01) and without reflux oesophagitis (22%, P < 0.05) and in both sexes (women 23%, men 25%, P < 0.05 each).

Conclusions: Ingestion of commonly consumed alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer induces gastro-oesophageal reflux in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients. Therefore, these patients should be advised to avoid the intake of large amounts (> or = 300 mL) of these beverages.