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Added: (Wed Nov 17 2004)
Heartburn Caused by Salt?
Background: Many people complain of the pain and discomfort of heartburn which is associated with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), a disorder in which there is recurrent return (reflux) of stomach contents back up into the esophagus. The pain of heartburn is a symptom that the esophagus is being irritated by stomach acid. Certain foods are known to reduce the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter muscle and thereby promote the reflux of stomach acid. The list of foods to be avoided includes chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks. Fatty foods and smoking also reduce the pressure in the sphincter and promote reflux. Other foods that can aggravate the symptoms of GERD are spicy or acid-containing foods, carbonated beverages and tomato juice.
Study: More than 3,000 Norwegians who described themselves as suffering from severe heartburn were compared to more than 40,000 who considered themselves heartburn free. The expected association of heartburn with smoking was observed but there was no association with the use of alcohol, coffee and tea in this population. But what was also unexpected was an association between heartburn and the use of table salt.
Comment: We don't know what to make of this study. At first glance, the sheer numbers are impressive. But the diagnosis of heartburn was determined by individual perception rather than with any sort of standardized criteria. Also, we would like to know whether there is something unique about the diet of this population living in the northern reaches of Norway. Do they eat a lot of salted fish? Or reindeer?