Insights & Discussion
Drinking hydrogen carbonate-rich mineral water significantly reduces heartburn episodes and improves quality of life in individuals with dyspeptic symptoms.
This one-arm pilot study involved 56 men and women experiencing frequent heartburn. Participants were instructed to drink 1.5 liters of mineral water high in hydrogen carbonate daily for six weeks. They kept a daily diary to record the number and duration of heartburn episodes. Additionally, several questionnaires were used to assess the effects of the water on their condition and quality of life. These included the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ), Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire (QOLRAD), Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GILQI), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). The study analyzed changes in symptoms and quality of life before and after the treatment using the Wilcoxon test.
The study reported a significant decrease in the number of weekly heartburn episodes and the duration of each episode after the six-week intervention. Participants also experienced a notable reduction in the severity of heartburn, regurgitation, and dyspeptic complaints. There was a significant improvement in disease-specific quality of life as measured by GILQI and QOLRAD, and in general health-related quality of life as assessed by SF-12. These findings suggest that drinking hydrogen carbonate-rich mineral water can be an effective alternative treatment for dyspeptic symptoms and heartburn, leading to an enhanced quality of life.
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Bicarbonate-rich mineral water “Staatl. Fachingen STILL” significantly reduces heartburn more effectively than placebo, improving patients’ quality of life.
2023 BMJ Open Gastroenterology Heartburn relief with bicarbonate-rich mineral water: results of the randomised, placebo-controlled phase-III trial STOMACH STILL Labenz J, Anschütz M, Walstab J, Wedemeyer RS, Wolters H, Schug B
Randomised Controlled Trial GERD Mineral Water
The STOMACH STILL trial, a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, assessed the effectiveness of Staatl. Fachingen STILL mineral water in relieving heartburn. Adult patients with frequent heartburn episodes for at least six months, but without severe reflux oesophagitis, were recruited. They consumed 1.5 liters per day of either the mineral water (verum) or placebo for six weeks. Primary endpoint was a reduction of at least five points in the Reflux Disease Questionnaire score for heartburn. Secondary endpoints included overall symptom reduction, health-related quality of life measures (QOLRAD), rescue medication intake, and safety/tolerability.
Of the 148 patients randomized, 143 completed the trial. The responder rate was significantly higher in the mineral water group (84.72%) compared to the placebo group (63.51%). Significant improvements were observed in the ‘heartburn’ dimension and overall Reflux Disease Questionnaire scores for the mineral water group. Additionally, three out of five Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia domains showed improvement: ‘food/drink problems,’ ‘emotional distress,’ and ‘vitality.’ The verum group also reported a decrease in rescue medication use. Only three patients experienced treatment-related adverse events. The study concluded that Staatl. Fachingen STILL mineral water is superior to placebo in relieving heartburn and enhancing health-related quality of life.
Positive effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture were observed in regulating gastric motility, gastric accommodation, mental status, gastrointestinal hormones, and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life.
2020 World Journal of Gastroenterology Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review Guo Y, Wei W, Chen JD
GERD
In this systematic review, we pooled randomized controlled trials with mechanistic investigations of acupuncture or electroacupuncture in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and illustrated the existing results that may provide potential explanations for the therapeutic effects. The findings of included studies in this review suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture can improve gastric motility and accommodation, regulate gastrointestinal hormones and mental status, and alter certain central and autonomic functions in patients with functional dyspepsia. However, due to limitations in the included articles, high-quality studies with well-planned designs and multiregional investigations are necessary to provide more convincing and credible evidence.
Hydrogen carbonate-rich mineral water significantly reduces heartburn frequency and severity, improving quality of life with excellent tolerability.
2016 World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology Efficacy and tolerability of hydrogen carbonate-rich water for heartburn Beer AM
Clinical Study GERD Hydrogen Carbonate Mineral Water
This open, single-center, single-arm clinical pilot study involved 50 patients aged 18-64, suffering from heartburn at least twice weekly for over three months. Excluding those with severe diseases or on heartburn medication, participants drank 1.5 liters of hydrogen carbonate-rich mineral water daily for six weeks, with 300 ml consumed at each meal. The study included five visits for monitoring. Efficacy was assessed through patient self-assessments in a heartburn diary, symptom-specific questionnaires (Reflux Disease Questionnaire, Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index), and overall health-related quality of life using the SF-12. Efficacy and safety were evaluated using the Wilcoxon test, χ2 test, and U-test, considering changes in symptoms and vital signs.
The study reported significant reductions in heartburn occurrences at week 6 in both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations. The average weekly heartburn episodes decreased by 5.1, and the duration of symptoms reduced by 19 minutes. Symptom frequency decreased in 89.6% of patients, and symptom duration in 79.2%. There were improvements in all dimensions of the RDQ and disease-specific quality of life. Both patients and investigators rated the water’s efficacy positively, with no serious adverse events reported. Additionally, a slight but significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed. The study concluded that hydrogen carbonate-rich mineral water is effective and well-tolerated in alleviating heartburn, enhancing quality of life.