A high fat diet and reflux - the evidence

The rate at which food is eaten also influences reflux. A study from South Carolina demonstrated that in healthy volunteers the number of reflux episodes increased by 40% if they are a meal in 5 minutes as opposed to 30 minutes. This effect was observed in the first hour after the meal.

Cholecystokinin is is released from the duodenum following ingestion of a fatty meal and promotes gall bladder contraction but a secondary function of it is to increase Transient Lower Oesophageal Relaxations (TLOSRs). However, treatment with loxiglumide, a CCK-1 antagonist, does not significantly reduce the amount of reflux even though it does demonstrably increase LOS pressure and reduce the frequency of TLOSRs.