Open-label Antacid-controlled Randomized Study on Effectiveness of Alginate-antacid Preparation (Gaviscon-Advance®) in Suppression of Post-supper Acid-pocket, Night-time Acid-reflux and Symptoms in Obese Participants

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation is a common disorder especially in overweight and obese persons who are at increased risk for GERD. Late night supper, an usual eating habit in many parts of the world, may worsen GERD and especially so among the obese, and this may be due to increased reflux from acid pocket. Acid pocket in the proximal part of stomach after meals has been shown to be an important mechanism of GERD. The acid pocket is increasingly recognized as a source from which acid reflux events originate. To what extent changes in acidity of the acid pocket contribute to the therapeutic effect of alginate antacid formulation is inconsistent. The other findings suggested that the main mechanism of action for the alginate-antacid combination is to displace the post-prandial acid pocket rather than mechanically containing it. Therefore, the outcomes of the study will allow us to determine whether late night supper worsen acid pocket, night time reflux and symptoms and whether an alginate antacid preparation (Gaviscon Advance®) is useful in suppression of acid pocket, night time refluxes and symptom (s). A benefit is that this study may inform doctors and advise participants of GERD side-effects of late night supper and how Gaviscon Advance may help.