Cola drinks consumption and oesophagitis*

Abstract

For oesophageal epithelial changes to develop from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), the character of the refluxate must be acid enough to cause injury. Experimentally, copious perfusion of the oesophagus with weak acid is quite harmless. However, hydrochloric acid alone with a pH below 3.0 may cause oesophageal injury. Cola drinks are strongly acidic (pH 2.5). This study analyses the influence of and possible interaction between cola consumption and oesophagitis. Twenty rats were divided into two groups of 10. The animals received saline (pH 7.0) or cola (pH 2.6) per OS with 24 h free access to these solutions. After the experiment the oesophagus was dissected. The mucosa was macroscopically and histopathologically examined, and flow cytometric analysis was used to look for proliferative activity. The histopathological analysis showed that there is no difference between saline and cola. But the findings of cell cycle analysis showed that the effects of cola and saline in inducing oesophageal mucosal damage are different. In the cola group the values were G0/G1, 7.33 +/- 2.88; S, 29.88 +/- 2.88; G2/M, 0.10 +/- 0.01; PI (proliferative-regenerative index), 29.76 +/- 2.88. The rat cell population g0/g1 phases were found to be low (p < 0.01), and the cell population S and PI phases were found to be significantly elevated compared with the control group (p < 0.01). (G0/G1, 79.30 +/- 5.97; S, 16.06 +/- 8.27; G2/M, 4.66 +/- 4.03; PI, 20.03 +/- 6.01). These results were reflected in the proliferative index, which is used as a measure of the regeneration index. The data show that cola has proliferative and regenerative effects on the oesophageal mucosa, and it is possible that its regenerative effect is caused as a result of an irritant effect.

Ingested Acidic Food and Liquids May Lead to Misinterpretation of 24-Hour Ambulatory pH Tests: Focus on Measurement of Extra-esophageal Reflux

“…The association between cola drink consumption and esophagitis has been proven in an animal model in which histopathological changes in the esophageal mucosa have been found with cola exposure but not with saline exposure [27]. Therefore, it is not certain whether the ingestion of acidic liquids like cola or juice only causes a slight risk of misinterpretation of AEPT or whether this ingestion leads to true esophageal or laryngeal mucosal injury.…”

Effects of Gaseous Drinks in Wistar Rats Esophagus

“…The carbonated beverage cola-type was chosen as an exogenous physiologic acid because millions of people consume it every day, besides being a strongly acidic (pH 2.5) (Kapicioglu, et al, 1999) [4].…”

“…Thus, there is no doubt that the chemical composition of an acidic beverage is important in the esophagitis physiopathology [14]. Besides, the carbon dioxide dissolved in drinks is able to influence the activity of taste receptors in the mouth, and results in neuromotor responses that may compromise swallowing [16].…”

“…Conforming to Kapicioglu, et al, (1999) [14], who studded the relation between cola beverages consumption and esophageal mucosa damage, the cola has proliferative and regenerative effects on the esophageal mucosa, possibly caused by its irritating effect.…”

Challenging Obesity Relating to Barrett Esophagitis

“…In animals, consumption of acid soda pop has been implicated experimentally as a mitogenic stimulant in the esophageal mucosa 6 . Barrett esophagitis results from chronic exposure to gastric acid, is a precancerous condition, and in the United States, is reportedly increasing in prevalence.…”