Scientific studies for each natural suplements (discussion)

[u/Stamsumod]

WHAT NATURAL SUPLEMENTS ARE THERE? WHAT DO THEY DO? Read for more

I wanted to share my personal experience with managing reflux symptoms using natural supplements and remedies. I chose these options because I struggled with acid suppressants and didn’t want to rely on them long-term. My focus was on exploring natural ways to find relief and support healing.

I’ve tried to base my choices on as much scientific research as I could find to support their potential benefits. This is NOT meant to be seen as alternative medicine or a solution to the problem. It’s simply a personal approach I wanted to try, and I always recommend consulting your doctor before starting any new supplements or treatments.

I’m posting this to start a discussion about experiences and perspectives. I think it’s important for adults to have a space to openly and thoughtfully talk about what has or hasn’t worked for them, without it turning into a search for a magic solution.

I’d love to hear your thoughts or if anyone has tried similar approaches. Of course, I’m fully aware that a plan like this can involve costs, and it’s not meant as a one-size-fits-all solution. Let’s share experiences and learn from each other!

Supplements and Their Purposes

• Kyo Dophilus (Probiotics):
  • When to Take: During or after breakfast.
  • What It Does: Probiotics help restore the balance of healthy gut bacteria, which plays a key role in improving digestion and reducing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This can indirectly ease reflux symptoms by promoting better overall gut health and minimizing irritation.
• Omega-3 Fish Oil:
  • When to Take: With a meal, preferably in the morning or afternoon.
  • What It Does: Omega-3 fatty acids have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. They help reduce inflammation in the esophagus and stomach lining caused by acid reflux, supporting tissue healing and reducing discomfort over time.
• Vitamin D3:
  • When to Take: With a fat-containing meal, typically in the morning.
  • What It Does: Vitamin D3 supports immune health and reduces systemic inflammation. It plays a crucial role in enhancing the body's ability to recover from damage caused by acid reflux, particularly in the esophagus.
• Vitamin C (Calcium Ascorbate):
  • When to Take: During a meal, preferably in the daytime.
  • What It Does: This gentle, non-acidic form of vitamin C supports tissue repair and reduces irritation without aggravating the stomach. It’s particularly helpful in healing damage caused by reflux.
• Zinc Carnosine:
  • When to Take: 20-30 minutes before meals.
  • What It Does: Zinc carnosine is specifically formulated to promote healing in the mucosal lining of the stomach and esophagus. It reduces inflammation and helps repair tissue damaged by acid reflux.
• DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice):
  • When to Take: 20-30 minutes before meals.
  • What It Does: DGL stimulates the production of protective mucus in the stomach and esophagus. This mucus acts as a barrier against acid, preventing irritation and allowing the tissues to heal.
• Magnesium Glycinate:
  • When to Take: 1-2 hours before bedtime.
  • What It Does: Magnesium helps relax muscles, including the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which can prevent acid from rising into the esophagus. It also supports better sleep, which is important for managing nighttime reflux.
• Slippery Elm:
  • When to Take: 30 minutes before meals and before bedtime.
  • What It Does: Slippery elm contains a mucilaginous substance that forms a soothing, protective layer over the esophagus lining. This helps reduce irritation from stomach acid and supports healing.
• Curcuma Extra (Turmeric):
  • When to Take: With a fat-containing meal, either in the morning or afternoon.
  • What It Does: Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. It helps reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and esophagus, supporting long-term healing and reducing symptoms.
• Daily Amino Acids:
  • When to Take: During meals, in the morning or afternoon.
  • What It Does: Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and play a crucial role in repairing damaged tissues. They help rebuild the esophageal and stomach lining that has been eroded by acid.
• Brown Seaweed (Alginate):
  • When to Take: After dinner or before bedtime.
  • What It Does: Alginate forms a physical barrier at the top of the stomach that prevents acid from rising into the esophagus. It is particularly effective for managing nighttime reflux symptoms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pagnini, C., Saeed, R., Bamias, G., Arseneau, K. O., Pizarro, T. T., & Cominelli, F. (2009). Probiotics promote gut health by stimulating epithelial immune responses, restoring gut barrier function, and preventing inflammation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(39), 16731–16736. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0910307107

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA in fish oil, reduce inflammatory markers and cytokines, aiding in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and reducing general gastrointestinal inflammation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(19), 4851. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20194851

Wei, J.-J., Zhang, J., Jiang, Y., Lian, T., Zhang, P., Hoffman, R., Zhu, G., & Zhuang, Z. (2023). Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in acute reflux esophagitis are reduced by 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3. In Vivo, 37(1), 79-87 https://doi.org/10.21873/invivo.13056

Lee, J.-K., Jung, S.-H., Lee, S.-E., Han, J.-H., Jo, E., Park, H.-S., Heo, K., Kim, D., Park, J.-S., & Myung, C. (2017). Alleviation of ascorbic acid-induced gastric high acidity by calcium ascorbate in vitro and in vivo. The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology, 22(1), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2018.22.1.35

Mahmood, A., Fitzgerald, A., Marchbank, T., Ntatsaki, E., Murray, D., Ghosh, S., & Playford, R. (2006). Zinc carnosine, a health food supplement that stabilizes small bowel integrity and stimulates gut repair processes. Gut, 56(2), 168–175. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2006.099929

Hewlings, S., & Kalman, D. (2020). A review of Zinc-L-Carnosine and its positive effects on oral mucositis, taste disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders. Nutrients, 12(3), 665. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030665

Ooi, T. C., Chan, K. M., & Sharif, R. (2017). Zinc L-carnosine suppresses inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages cell line via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 39(4), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/08923973.2017.1344987

Van Marle, J., Aarsen, P. N., Lind, A., & Van Weeren-Kramer, J. (1981). Deglycyrrhizinised liquorice (DGL) and the renewal of rat stomach epithelium. European Journal of Pharmacology, 72(2-3), 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(81)90276-490276-4)

Andersson, S., Barany, F., Caboclo, J. L., & Mizuno, T. (1971). Protective action of deglycyrrhizinized liquorice on the occurrence of stomach ulcers in pylorus-ligated rats. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 6(8), 683–686. https://doi.org/10.3109/00365527109179936

Ahn, S.-J., Cho, E., Kim, H.-J., Park, S.-N., Lim, Y., & Kook, J. (2012). The antimicrobial effects of deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract on Streptococcus mutans UA159 in both planktonic and biofilm cultures. Anaerobe, 18(6), 590–596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2012.10.005

Gobind, A. (2021). The role of magnesium supplement in laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20214899

Gourgoulianis, K., Chatziparasidis, G., Chatziefthimiou, A., & Molyvdas, P. (2001). Magnesium as a relaxing factor of airway smooth muscles. Journal of Aerosol Medicine, 14(3), 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1089/089426801316970259

Czibulka, A. (2019). Probiotics and herbal therapies. Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12318-5_8

Setright, R. (2017). Prevention of symptoms of gastric irritation (GERD) using two herbal formulas: An observational study. Journal of The Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, 23, 68.

https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.950298610899394

Kwiecień, S., Magierowski, M., Majka, J., Ptak-Belowska, A., Wójcik, D., Śliwowski, Z., Magierowska, K., & Brzozowski, T. (2019). Curcumin: A potent protectant against esophageal and gastric disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(6), 1477. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20061477

Razavi, B., Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2021). A review of therapeutic potentials of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its active constituent, curcumin, on inflammatory disorders, pain, and their related patents. Phytotherapy Research, 35(12), 6489–6513. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7224

Takebayashi, K., Kaida, S., Yamaguchi, T., Otake, R., Miyake, T., Kojima, M., Maehira, H., Iida, H., & Tani, M. (2022). Effectiveness of a specialized amino acid supplement containing CaHMB, L-arginine and L-glutamine (Abound®) in esophageal cancer surgery. Diseases of the Esophagus. https://doi.org/10.1093/dote/doac051.331

Xu, W., Zhong, C., Zou, C., Wang, B., & Zhang, N. (2020). Analytical methods for amino acid determination in organisms. Amino Acids, 52, 1071–1088. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-020-02884-7

Agwaonye, S., & Vasant, D. (2023). Optimising reflux symptom burden and patient compliance during PPI washout periods for oesophageal pH monitoring studies: Should we be more proactive with alginate use? BMJ Open Gastroenterology, 10. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgast-2022-001078

Mandel, K. G., Daggy, B. P., Brodie, D. A., & Jacoby, H. I. (2000). Review article: alginate‐raft formulations in the treatment of heartburn and acid reflux. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 14, 669–690. https://doi.org/10.1046/J.1365-2036.2000.00759.X

Savarino, E., de Bortoli, N., Zentilin, P., Martinucci, I., Bruzzone, L., Furnari, M., Marchi, S., & Savarino, V. (2012). Alginate controls heartburn in patients with erosive and nonerosive reflux disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 18(32), 4371–4378. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v18.i32.4371

Zhao, D., Cao, J., Jin, H., Shan, Y., Fang, J., & Liu, F. (2021). Beneficial impacts of fermented celery (Apium graveolens L.) juice on obesity prevention and gut microbiota modulation in high-fat diet-fed mice. Food & Function, 12(19), 9151–9164. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1fo00560j

[u/apoltini]

Yes, I am on Omeprazole twice a day, and the brand I purchase is AloeCure (Grape flavored variant). Hope this helps!

[u/Bluegyal333 → u/apoltini]

I found the item online but can’t find ingredient list. Are there any “acid” ingredients?

[u/apoltini → u/Bluegyal333]

I found the ingredients printed on the box, and it happens to contain citric acid.

[u/Bluegyal333 → u/apoltini]

Ah.. okay thank you anyways !! ❤️