Diet Soda dissolves Stomach Mass, Sending Patient Home
BOSTON – A woman recently hospitalized with abdominal pain and vomiting experienced a remarkable recovery after doctors successfully dissolved a large stomach mass using diet soda, according to a case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The mass, identified as a bezoar, is a collection of undigested material that can accumulate in the stomach.
Bezoars come in various forms. Phytobezoars consist of plant fibers, trichobezoars are formed from ingested hair-often linked to trichotillomania and trichophagia, and lactobezoars are comprised of milk products and mucus, commonly found in infants. Other types include pharmacobezoars, formed from medication ingredients, and polybezoars, made of non-food items like plastics, often seen in individuals with Pica.
Doctors initially diagnosed the patient’s condition using an endoscope,revealing a large,greenish,and mucus-covered mass within her stomach. While not causing a blockage,the bezoar was significantly impacting her comfort.
Traditionally, bezoars are treated with surgical removal or endoscopic fragmentation-breaking the mass into smaller pieces for passage. However, a growing number of physicians are now exploring chemical dissolution as a first-line treatment, and Coca-Cola, surprisingly, has emerged as the preferred agent.
An editorial published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal endoscopy suggests the effectiveness stems from the soda’s acidic properties and the presence of carbonic and phosphoric acids, which may help break down fibrous materials. However, the exact mechanisms behind Coca-Cola’s bezoar-busting capabilities remain incompletely understood.
Despite this, the editorial authors note Coca-Cola is increasingly used as an initial treatment. Supporting this trend, a 2024 randomized controlled trial involving 160 patients in china with phytobezoars found that “Timely ingestion of Coca-Cola yields meaningful benefits, including a complete dissolution rate of 100 percent, a low incidence of gastric ulcers, no need for fragmentation, and reduced expenses.” In the recent case,the patient responded positively to treatment with diet soda and was discharged from the hospital.
