Antacid Use Tied to Vitamin B12 Deficiency

A new study suggests that popular antacid drugs, such as those used to treat gastric reflux and peptic ulcers, can contribute to a serious vitamin B12 deficiency.

The study found that people who are diagnosed with the deficiency are more likely to be taking proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) compared to those not diagnosed with the deficiency. The researchers explained this is because the body absorbs vitamin B12 with the help of stomach acid.

A vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to people becoming tired, weak, constipated and anemic. When left untreated, it can also lead to nerve damage and dementia.

Common PPIs include omeprazole (Prozac), esomeprazole (Nexium) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). H2RAs include cimetidine (Tagamet), famitodine (Pepcid) and ranitidine (Zantac).

The researchers' findings suggest that the drugs should be used for as short a time as possible and at the lowest dose that is still effective.

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