Randomised clinical trial: the effectiveness of Gaviscon Advance vs non‐alginate antacid in suppression of acid pocket and post‐prandial reflux in obese individuals after late‐night supper

BACKGROUND: Late‐night supper increases the risk of postprandial reflux from the acid pocket especially in obesity. An alginate‐based, raft‐forming medication may be useful for obese patients with GERD. AIMS: To compare the efficacy of Gaviscon Advance (Reckitt Benckiser, UK) and a non‐alginate antacid in post‐supper suppression of the acid pocket and post‐prandial reflux among obese participants. METHODS: Participants underwent 48 h wireless and probe‐based pH‐metry recording of the acid pocket and lower oesophagus, respectively, and were randomised to single post‐supper (10 pm) dose of either Gaviscon Advance or a non‐alginate antacid on the second night. Primary outcomes were suppression of median pH of acid pocket and lower oesophagus, measured every 10‐minutes post‐supper for 1 h. Secondary outcomes were suppression of % time pH < 4 at lower oesophagus and improvement in frequency and visual analogue score (VAS) of regurgitation. RESULTS: Of the 81 screened participants, 55 were excluded and 26 (mean age 33.5 years, males 77.8% and BMI 32.8 kg/m(2)) were randomised to Gaviscon Advance (n = 13) or antacid (n = 13). Median pH of the acid pocket but not the lower oesophagus was suppressed with Gaviscon Advance vs antacid (all P < 0.04) Gaviscon Advance but not antacid significantly reduced in % time pH < 4, symptom frequency and VAS on day 2 vs day 1 (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among obese individuals, Gaviscon Advance was superior to a non‐alginate antacid in post‐supper suppression of the acid pocket. (Clinical trial registration unique identifier: NCT03516188).