Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Amazon.com.

Background: Amazon.com is the largest online retailer and marketplace in the United States for electronic commerce. Many people rely on the platform to gain knowledge about many medical disorders and to purchase products based on this understanding. The information presented on this vast electronic-commerce platform is oftentimes misleading and may not be supported by scientific medical evidence.

Aims: The aim of this article is to critically and scientifically evaluate the Amazon.com platform as it relates to products that are being marketed for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to assess the scientific validity of their claims.

Methods: Amazon.com was accessed and searched based on titles and subtitles related to GERD. Strength of evidence grades for medical claims of products for purchase on the platform were determined based on the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) program of the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), based on published scientific and medical literature.

Results: High evidence was only found for weight loss and certain medications such as antacids, H-2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, and potassium-competitive acid blockers; Moderate evidence for GERD pillows; low evidence for combination of melatonin with medications (except for omeprazole); and insufficient evidence for GERD teas, supplements, majority of diet books, probiotics, apple cider vinegar, exercises, and nontraditional treatments such as Old Amish Formula.

Conclusions: Individual consumers should critically evaluate information from social media, consider scientific evidence, and consult reliable sources of accurate information before deciding to purchase over-the-counter products that are widely marketed to the general public for the treatment of medical disorders such as GERD.