Symptoms of hiatal hernia may include heartburn, swallowing difficulty and chest pain. Sometimes, hiatal hernia patients experience no symptoms. Treatment usually includes a diet to reduce or prevent acid reflux, which causes frequent heartburn. Vitamins play a role in helping to combat these symptoms. Weakened supporting tissue may cause a hiatal hernia, in which a part of the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm into the chest. This can also affect the esophagus, causing acid reflux symptoms. Check with your doctor for dietary and medical advice if you suspect or have a hiatal hernia.
B Vitamins
Dietary supplementation that includes B vitamins works as well as acid-reducing medication, according to a Brazilian study. Researchers gave 176 acid reflux patients a dietary supplement that contained vitamins B-6 and B-12, the B-complex vitamin folic acid, melatonin, tryptophan, methionine and betaine. Another group of 175 patients received omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that prevents stomach acid production. After 40 days, both groups reported regression of symptoms. The group taking the vitamin supplements reported no significant side effects, according to a July 2006 issue of the “Journal of Pineal Research.”
Vitamins in the Diet
A diet high in the B vitamins and calcium helps reduce acid reflux symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Foods containing B vitamins and calcium include beans, almonds, dark leafy greens, sea vegetables and whole grains. Whole grains, such as bread, pasta, cereal and brown rice, work effectively in a diet for hiatal hernia patients by aiding digestion. Whole grains develop a thick quality during the digestive process to help soak up excess acid. Vegetables and fruits digest smoothly to reduce acid reflux symptoms.
Multivitamins
Taking a daily multivitamin also helps with digestive health to prevent symptoms. The University of Maryland recommends multivitamins with vitamins A, C and E and the B vitamins, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium and zinc. Vitamin C, found in many fruits and vegetables, helps to provide antioxidant effects. Antioxidants help fight cell damage caused by free radicals. Hiatal hernia and acid reflux patients who experience frequent acid reflux may develop esophageal damage over time.
Low Fat
Along with vitamins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, other low-fat foods help hiatal hernia patients avoid acid reflux. Avoid red meats and choose lean meat with all visible fat trimmed off, poultry without skin, and fish. Fatty foods contribute to acid reflux symptoms. Eat frequent, small meals in place of three large meals a day to ease digestion. A low-fat diet to prevent acid reflux also helps hiatal hernia patients to lose weight. Excess weight can trigger acid reflux symptoms.
