The effects of chili on gastric accommodation (GA) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients have not been explored.
Methods: In total, 15 healthy volunteers (HV) and 15 pH-positive non-erosive GERD (NERD) patients underwent single-photon emission computed tomography after ingesting 2 g of chili or placebo in capsules in a randomized double-blind crossover fashion with a one-week washout period. GA was the maximal postprandial gastric volume (GV) after 250 mL of Ensure® minus the fasting GV. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated by using a visual analog scale.
Results: NERD patients but not HV had significantly greater GA after chili compared to a placebo (451 ± 89 vs. 375 ± 81 mL, p < 0.05). After chili, the postprandial GVs at 10, 20, and 30 min in NERD patients were significantly greater than HV (10 min, 600 ± 73 vs. 526 ± 70 mL; 20 min, 576 ± 81 vs. 492 ± 78 mL; 30 min, 532 ± 81 vs. 466 ± 86 mL, all p < 0.05). In NERD, chili was associated with significantly less satiety, more severe abdominal burning (p < 0.05), and a trend of more severe heartburn (p = 0.06) compared to the placebo. In HV, postprandial symptoms after chili and placebo ingestion were similar (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Chili enhanced GA in NERD patients but not in HV. This suggests that the modulation of GA in NERD is abnormal and likely involves transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) sensitive pathways.
Keywords: GERD; capsaicin; chili; gastric accommodation; stomach.