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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Precision Medicine
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1488323

Efficacy of Dietary Modifications and Mucosal Protectors in the Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Multicenter Study

Provisionally accepted
Matteo Gelardi Matteo Gelardi 1Rossana Giancaspro Rossana Giancaspro 1*Christian Fiorentino Christian Fiorentino 1Stefano Patruno Stefano Patruno 1Jacopo Marroni Jacopo Marroni 2Alessandro D'Avino Alessandro D'Avino 3Letizia Neri Letizia Neri 4Michele Cassano Michele Cassano 1Giampiero Neri Giampiero Neri 2
  • 1 University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
  • 2 University of Studies G. d'Annunzio Chieti and Pescara, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy
  • 3 Institute of Immaculate Dermatology (IRCCS), Rome, Lazio, Italy
  • 4 Otolaryngology Unit, University of Insubria, Varese, Lombardia, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined as an extraesophageal reflux of gastroduodenal contents to the laryngopharynx, affecting the upper aerodigestive tract. There is currently no standardized treatment protocol for LPR. The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is widely established in common practice and derives from the standard approach of using PPIs to treat patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, as PPIs may not be effective on all types of reflux, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary changes and mucosal protectants, alone or in combination, in LPR treatment.Methods: This multicenter randomized controlled trial included 48 patients divided into three groups: dietary modifications only, mucosal protectors only, and a combination of both. The patients' responses were assessed over one month using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS), along with measurements of salivary and nasal pepsin concentration and rhinomanometry.Results: Significant improvements were observed in RSI and RFS scores across all groups. The group receiving combined dietary modifications and mucosal protectors showed the most substantial benefits. Additionally, a notable reduction in salivary and nasal pepsin concentrations and nasal resistances was observed, particularly in patients combining dietary modifications and mucosal protectors.The study showed that combined dietary modifications and mucosal protects strategies effectively manage LPR symptoms, offering a potential therapeutic approach.

    Keywords: Laryngopharyngeal Reflux, Dietary modifications, mucosal protectors, pepsin, Pep Test

    Received: 29 Aug 2024; Accepted: 06 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Gelardi, Giancaspro, Fiorentino, Patruno, Marroni, D'Avino, Neri, Cassano and Neri. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Rossana Giancaspro, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.