The Relationship Between Smartphone Exposure And Gastroesophageal Reflux In Infancy

The Annals of Family Medicine The Relationship Between Smartphone Exposure And Gastroesophageal Reflux In Infancy. *Corresponding Author: Dr Ali Mardi MD, Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology Bouali Children`s Hospital,Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (ARUMS), Ardabil, Iran. Email: [email protected] , ORCID: 0000-0003-4860-9774. Received: 04-Oct-2025, Manuscript No. TAOFM-5160 ; Editor Assigned: 06-Oct-2025 ; Reviewed: 17-Oct-2025, QC No. TAOFM-5160 ; Published: 29-Oct-2025, DOI: 10.52338/taofm.2025.5160 Citation: Farhad Salehzadeh MD. The Relationship Between Smartphone Exposure And Gastroesophageal Reflux In Infancy. The Annals of Family Medicine. 2025 October; 13(1). doi: 10.52338/taofm.2025.5160. Copyright © 2025 Farhad Salehzadeh MD. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ISSN 2998-9221 Review Article Farhad Salehzadeh MD., Ali Mardi MD. Professor of Pediatric Rheumatology, Pediatric Department Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (ARUMS), Bouali Children`s Hospital. Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology Bouali Children`s Hospital,Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (ARUMS), Ardabil, Iran www.directivepublications.org Abstract The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in infants seems to be increasing. This article discusses the hypothesis that maternal smartphone use during pregnancy may contribute to this disease. The hypothesis is supported by epidemiological observations of higher GERD prevalence in infants from urban and higher socioeconomic backgrounds compared to rural populations, and by experimental evidence suggesting that electromagnetic fields influence lower esophageal sphincter (LES) physiology. Further multi-center studies are warranted to investigate this potential environmental risk factor in the etiopathogenesis of infants GERD. Keywords : Smartphone, Gastroesophageal reflux, GERD, infant, pregnancy. INTRODUCTION Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) represents a significant clinical problem during infancy, often resulting in feeding difficulties, and impaired growth. The apparent rise in clinically significant GERD in recent decades raises questions about underlying contributing factors. Having worked as a pediatrician for over 35 years, I’ve observed a striking rise in cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among young infants in recent decades. This noticeable increase has prompted us to explore its underlying causes. I’ve faced that many affected infants come from urban areas, particularly families with higher socioeconomic status, while cases from rural regions are relatively rare. This disparity led me to explore the lifestyle differences between urban and rural populations. HYPOTHESIZED CONTRIBUTING FACTORS The contrast in GERD prevalence between urban and rural populations may reflect differing exposures during pregnancy and early life. Women in rural communities in developing countries generally have less contact with modern technologies, including smartphones, compared to those in urban settings, where smartphone use is one of the social imperatives of their life. DISCUSSION Experimental research indicates that electromagnetic fields may affect gastrointestinal physiology. A recent study demonstrated that electrical field stimulation alters the function of clasp and sling fibers of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which are critical for maintaining the anti- reflux function (1). Although preliminary, these findings provide a plausible biological mechanism through which electromagnetic exposure could influence esophageal function. The proposed hypothesis offers a potential explanation for the rising prevalence of GERD in infants, particularly in urban settings. While current evidence remains indirect and primarily theoretical, the convergence of epidemiological patterns and experimental findings supports further exploration of this association. If confirmed, this hypothesis would underscore the importance of assessing environmental and technological exposures during pregnancy as modifiable risk factors. Multicenter studies incorporating maternal lifestyle data, technological

Directive Publications Dr Ali Mardi MD exposure assessments, and infant health outcomes are needed to clarify whether smartphone use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of infant GERD. CONCLUSION It is hypothesized that maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields associated with smartphone use during pregnancy could interfere with the development or postnatal dysfunction of the infant’s LES, thereby predisposing to GERD. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of inter- est related to this study. Ethics declaration: not applicable. Funding: no REFERENCES 1. Feng, Y., Wei, W., Chen, L., & Liu, J.-F. (2023). The contribution of lysophosphatidic acid receptors in the response of human lower esophageal sphincter under the electrical field stimulation. BMC Gastroenterology, 23, Article 158. Page - 2Open Access, Volume 13 , 2025

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