Acute administration of fructans increases the number of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations in healthy volunteers.

INTRODUCTION

Dietary measures are often advised to patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols (FODMAPs) induce lower gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. However, their effects on esophageal motility, including transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs), reflux events and GERD symptoms are unknown. We investigated the effect of acute administration of two FODMAPs, fructose, and fructans, on the number of TLESRs, reflux episodes and symptom perception in healthy volunteers (HVs).

MATERIALS

After an overnight fast, 20 HVs (10 males; 32.6 ± 2.8 years) underwent a high-resolution impedance manometry. The number of TLESRs and reflux episodes was quantified during five hours after consumption of a high-caloric meal (740 kcal) enriched with 40 g of either fructose, fructans or glucose (as placebo). Results were analyzed using mixed models.

RESULTS

There was a trend for a change in the number of TLESRs between the three conditions (P = .06). Post hoc analysis revealed a trend toward a higher number of TLESRs in the fructan condition compared with placebo (P  = .06). Acute administration of fructose did not influence the number of TLESRs. The total number of reflux events was not affected by either FODMAP condition. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressures dropped significantly in the first postprandial hour to recover slowly back to baseline values (P < .0001), without any difference in LES pressure between the three conditions.

CONCLUSION

Ingestion of fructans increased the number of TLESRs slightly compared with placebo. The effect of FODMAPs such as fructans or a low FODMAP diet on reflux parameters in GERD patients remains to be investigated.