As someone who as been taking these for 3+ years and is utterly scared of these news I would just like to add a few data points regarding my experience that might help others:

- an endoscopy revealed level 1 oseophagitis

- triggers for me include: coffee, tea or any other source of caffeine, fried and high fat foods, alcohol, acidic fruits, high protein foods.

- an experiment with betaine HCL + pepsin was very painful. After that I learned that pepsin is as bad or worse to your oesophagus than stomach acid.

- cider vinegar: same result as betaine HCL + pepsin.

- digestive enzymes: no change.

- pro-biotics, including kefir: no change.

- cutting gluten, dairy and sugar: no change.

- ranitidine: works but effectiveness drops rapidly.

- on-going experiments: liquorice and low-fodmap diet, no conclusions yet.