Ask the doctor

Better Nutrition, August, 2004 by Frank Ervolino

Is there a supplement I can take to help acid reflux instead of regular medication? Also, can you recommend a women's multivitamin?

--Wendy D.

In my practice, about one-third of patients over 40 are on some type of medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD develops because the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus is no longer functional, causing hydrochloric acid--essential for food digestion--to irritate the esophageal lining.

I suggest you try the following to help repair your irritated esophagus. In Japan, there is a pharmaceutical made from L-carnosine and zinc that helps repair the lining of the stomach and esophagus. It is available in this country as a supplement called Nature's Lining. Chew one tablet twice a day. It works quite well, and it is the first new natural product for GERD in a long time.

Licorice also has a healing effect on the esophageal tissues, as does marshmallow root and slippery, elm. Both marshmallow root and slippery elm act as demulcents, which coat the lining of the esophagus and protect it from irritation. If you use licorice, make sure it is the deglycyrrhizinated (DGL) form. Chew two tablets before each meal. Also, bladder wrack contains alginic acid, which can help GERD.

Eat meals with a low fat content, and avoid coffee, chocolate, milk, alcohol, nicotine and tomatoes. Phosphatidylcholine (a component of lecithin; follow the dosage recommendations on the label), pantothenic acid (1 gram twice per day) and manganese (50 milligrams (mg) per day) can also support proper sphincter action.

As for a women's multivitamin, I will be addressing that in depth in a future column. In general, remember that you get what you pay for, so don't go cheap on vitamins. You want a vitamin B complex to support your adrenal glands during stress. You also want more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C, along with choline, betaine, folic acid, pantothenic acid and niacinamide for healthy liver function, and homocysteine for melabolism function.

Furthermore, you need chromium and vanadium to support glucose and fat metabolism. Vitamins A, C and E act as antioxidants to protect the body from cancer, as does selenium. There should also be adequate amounts (400-800 micrograms (mcg)) of folic acid for cardiovascular health.

Liquid or powdered vitamins are better for people with GERD because they pass through the stomach faster. But those forms are not as strong as pills. Unless you have a special condition that needs higher levels of vitamins, however, either pills or liquids will do the job.

Frank Ervolino, ND, lives in Palm City, Florida. He's on the staff of Jupiter Medical Center Hospital as an acupuncturist. He received his doctorate of naturopathic medicine and a master's of science degree in acupuncture from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. In 2003, he was appointed by the governor to the Florida State Board of Acupuncture.

Dr. Ervolino is happy to answer your health questions. Email him at askdre@adelphia.net.