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Can You Drink Decaf Coffee With GERD?

In this blog, we will take a close look at the relationship between decaffeinated coffee and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We will explore how decaf coffee can cause GERD and discuss other beverages that can exacerbate or alleviate GERD symptoms.

Jakub Gwiazdecki

Author - Jakub Gwiazdecki

Fifth year medical student at the Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava.

Jakub used MediSearch to find sources for this blog.
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Can You Drink Decaf Coffee With GERD?

Generally, when you are affected by GERD, decaf coffee is considered the better option. Scientific research indicates that people who drink decaf coffee experience fewer symptoms than when drinking normal coffee [1].

However, in some cases, GERD can be caused by more than just caffeine [2]. Other components of coffee, even when it is decaf, can cause the characteristic symptom of GERD. Therefore, you have to pay attention to how you feel after drinking decaf coffee.

You should stop drinking decaf coffee when the symptoms of GERD come back.

Remember that everyone is different. Decaf and normal coffee can cause problems for one person while the other is not affected by their consumption.

Always remember what you ate before the onset of GERD symptoms. The direct cause of your GERD symptom could be something that you had eaten with your coffee.

Why Do I Feel Heartburn After Decaf Coffee?

Your GERD symptoms may increase after decaf coffee. However, the direct cause of this is not caffeine.

Decaf coffee increases acid secretion in your stomach. The increase is very high and can be compared to gastric acid stimulators like pentagastrin [4].

When your stomach produces a lot of stomach acid, it can cause symptoms such as heartburn.

Additionally, decaf coffee can lead to relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. This can potentiate your GERD. The exact how decaf coffee relaxes the sphincter is not fully understood.

One study suggests that increases in cyclic nucleotide content, specifically cyclic guanosine monophosphate, are associated with relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in humans 1. However, it's important to note that this effect is not solely due to caffeine, as both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee have been found to decrease lower esophageal sphincter pressure 32. Therefore, other components in coffee, not just caffeine, likely contribute to this effect.

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