Fluid Intake and Functional Gastrointestinal Disease: A Narrative Review

Background: Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases (FGIDs) impose a huge health burden, and lead to metabolic and mental disorders, impaired social function and productivity, reduced quality of life, higher total mortality and health care cost. Beverages are one of the major components of habitual dietary habits that may influence the symptoms of FGIDs. Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the effect of frequent dietary fluids on common causes of FGIDS including functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional constipation (FC). Methods: A literature search was done using the following search engines: PubMed, Google Scholar and ISI web of science with the following search terms “beverages”, tea”, “caffeine”, “coffee”, “milk”, “water”, “fruit juice”, “carbonated beverage”, “constipation”, “irritable bowel syndrome”, “gastroesophageal reflux disease”, “dyspepsia”,. Results: In this review, 85 studies were evaluated. It was shown that to higher intakes of caffeinated drinks, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks and carbonated beverages are associated with aggravating symptoms in GERD, IBS and FD. The data on the relation between water consumption with GERD, IBS and FD are limited and inconsistent. However, consumption of fruit juices and water was related to an improvement in constipation. Conclusion: Fluid intake can be effective in the management of FGIDs symptoms. However, further investigation on the role of various fluids consumption on symptoms of FGIDS is required.