Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common occurrence in infants, especially in the first year of life. It often resolves on its own, but in some cases, frequent regurgitation or vomiting can cause distress for both infants and caregivers.
In such cases, treatments like feed thickeners or alginate-based products may be considered as part of symptom management.
One such treatment is Gaviscon Infant, an alginate-based powder that thickens the contents of the stomach to help prevent them from rising up the oesophagus.
A new laboratory study, published in Scientific Reports, has examined how Gaviscon Infant interacts with a variety of infant milk formulations – particularly those used in cases of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), such as hydrolysed and amino acid-based formulas.
Simulating reflux in the lab
The study used a simplified artificial stomach model designed to replicate the reflux process in infants. This model allowed researchers to simulate reflux events and measure how far the stomach contents travelled up a tube mimicking the oesophagus, referred to as ‘refluxate height’. A lower refluxate height was considered an indication of better reflux suppression in this controlled lab setting.
Researchers tested Gaviscon Infant in combination with 16 different milk formulations from the UK, Latin America, and the US. These included:
- Unhydrolysed formula (used as a benchmark)
- Partially hydrolysed formula (pHF)
- Extensively hydrolysed formula (eHF)
- Amino acid-based formula (AAF)
Each formulation was tested six times, with five simulated reflux events per test, and results were compared to a negative control, an unhydrolysed formula with no Gaviscon Infant added.
What did the study find?
Gaviscon Infant, when used with any of the tested formulas, was associated with a lower refluxate height than the negative control. This suggests that the product helped reduce reflux in this artificial model, regardless of the milk type used.
Among the different formula categories, the combination of Gaviscon Infant and extensively hydrolysed formula (eHF) resulted in the lowest overall refluxate height. This was somewhat unexpected, as eHF products contain more broken-down proteins, and the thickening effect of alginates like Gaviscon Infant is known to depend on the presence of calcium and milk proteins.
The difference in performance between Gaviscon Infant with eHF and the other categories (pHF, AAF, and unhydrolysed formula) was statistically significant (p = 0.0011). Interestingly, performance remained consistent across all five reflux events during each test, suggesting that the effect was sustained over the course of the 25-minute testing window.
What does this mean… and what doesn’t it mean?
These findings provide early lab-based evidence that Gaviscon Infant can work in combination with a variety of formula types, including those used for infants with CMPA. However, the authors are careful to point out the limitations of the study.
Because each formula was only tested in combination with Gaviscon Infant, and not on its own, it’s difficult to determine how much of the reflux suppression effect was due to the formula itself versus the alginate. Some hydrolysed formulas are known to reduce reflux symptoms independently, so the study cannot isolate the specific contribution of Gaviscon Infant.
The model used also does not fully replicate conditions inside a baby’s digestive system. It simulates pressure-based reflux but doesn’t account for digestion, muscle tone, peristalsis, or interactions with the oesophageal lining. So, while useful for product comparison, these results shouldn’t be directly applied to clinical settings without further research.
A starting point for further investigation
Despite these limitations, the study adds to a growing body of knowledge about non-pharmacological options for managing infant reflux. It also highlights the need for continued research into how infant formulas and reflux treatments interact, especially in cases involving CMPA, where formulas like eHF and AAF are commonly used.
Future studies might explore these interactions in more complex dynamic models or through clinical trials to better understand how lab findings translate into real-world outcomes.
Peptest detects pepsin — the stomach enzyme that marks reflux — in a saliva sample. Collected at home, analysed in our UK laboratory, results back within 48 hours.
- Results in 48 hours
- No GP referral needed
- UK laboratory
Recent Comments