Efficacy of a Food Supplement Containing Lactobacillus acidophilus LA14, Peptides, and a Multivitamin Complex in Improving Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Related Outcomes and Quality of Life of Subjects Showing Mild-to-Moderate Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 16; no. 11; p. 1759
• Main Authors: Tursi, Francesco, Benedetto, Edoardo, Spina, Amelia, De Ponti, Ileana, Amone, Fabio, Nobile, Vincenzo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.06.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Adult; Antacids; Bacteria; Care and treatment; Chemical properties; Compliance; Complications and side effects; Diet; Diet therapy; Dietary Supplements; Disease; Diseases; Dosage and administration; Double-Blind Method; Eating disorders; Female; Food; Gastroesophageal reflux; Gastroesophageal Reflux - drug therapy; Health aspects; Heartburn - drug therapy; Histamine; Humans; Interviews; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Male; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Multivitamins; Nonprescription drugs; Patient outcomes; Peptides; Peptides - administration & dosage; Peptides - therapeutic use; Probiotics; Probiotics - administration & dosage; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Self evaluation; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Vitamins; Vitamins - administration & dosage; Italy; clinical trial; GERD; bioactive peptides; QoL; probiotics
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16111759

Dietary interventions represent an interesting alternative to pharmacological treatments for improving the quality of life (QoL) of subjects suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a food supplement (FS) containing a probiotic strain, bioactive peptides, and vitamins in relieving heartburn/dyspeptic symptoms in subjects with mild-to-moderate GERD. Fifty-six adult participants were randomly assigned to receive the placebo or the active FS for 28 days. Subjects were asked to record daily the frequency and intensity of heartburn episodes and the intake of over- the-counter (OTC) medications. GERD-QoL and self-assessment questionnaires were also completed every two weeks and at the end of the treatment, respectively. FS was effective in achieving a progressive and significant reduction of heartburn frequency and severity, with an intergroup significant difference at the end of the treatment period. FS group also reported a reduction in the OTC medication intake, whereas placebo administration did not modify the OTC intake. Results from the QoL and self-assessment questionnaires showed that FS administration achieved a progressive and statistically significant intragroup and intergroup improvement in the QoL score and a higher positive response with respect to the placebo treatment.