Relationship Between Meal Frequency and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Iranian Adults

Abstract

Background

The association between frequency of meals and snacks and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is less studied in Middle-Eastern countries.

Aim

We aimed to determine the relationship between meal and snack frequency with GERD symptoms in a large sample of Iranian adults.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 4669 individuals filled out a questionnaire about their number of meals and snacks. Frequency of total meals was defined by summing up the frequency of main meals and snacks, and participants were categorized into four categories: < 3, 3–5, 6–7 and ≥ 8 meals/day. GERD was defined as having heartburn sometimes or more during the last 3 months. The severity of disease was assessed.

Results

The prevalence of GERD in the study population was 23.7%. There was no significant association between meal or snack frequency and GERD symptoms in the whole population. However, after adjustment of all potential confounders, we found that women who consumed 1–2 or 3–5 snacks per day, compared with those who never had snacks, had a 41% (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.42–0.84) and 51% (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.32–0.75) reduced risk of having GERD, respectively. Women who consumed 6–7 or ≥ 8 snacks and meals per day had a 38% (OR 0.62; 95% CI 0.41–0.96) and 43% (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.34–0.95) risk reduction for GERD compared with those who ate < 3 snacks and meals per day.

Conclusion

We found no significant association between meal frequency and GERD symptoms in the whole population. Gender-specific analysis revealed inverse associations between meal and snack frequency and GERD in Iranian women. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these associations.

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