Esophageal acidity influences gastric acidity

What is it about?

All humans experience gastroesophageal reflux which is the movement of acidic gastric fluid into the esophagus. Excessive movement of gastric acid into the esophagus can damage the esophagus and lead to a condition called "gastroesophageal reflux disease" or GERD. Our study examined the hypothesis that gastroesophageal reflux represents a mechanism for the esophagus to monitor gastric acidity and to signal the stomach to maintain normal gastric acidity.

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Why is it important?

Our findings support the hypothesis that depending on the value of gastric acidity, the esophagus can signal the stomach to alter gastric acidity and that this ability is impaired in subjects with GERD.