Brought to you from the NEEDS Wellness Team
The drug Prilosec (Omeprazole)
is commonly prescribed to
people with heartburn, gastric
reflux, and ulcers. Prilosec blocks the
production of hydrochloric acid in the
stomach and reduces acidity, thus
lessening the pain associated with
these conditions. A recent study shows that Prilosec not only blocks acid
production, but also inhibits absorption
of calcium, an essential mineral, by
41%. In this randomized, double-blind
trial, 18 elderly women took either 20
mg of Prilosec or a placebo every day
for a week. All participants also took
500 mg of
calcium carbonate daily.
The women who concurrently took
the Prilosec had a 41% decrease in
calcium absorption as compared to
those who did not.
Calcium and additional important
nutrients, such as
iron and
B-12, require
hydrochloric acid for optimal absorption.
Millions of Americans use Prilosec, and
other acid-blocking drugs. Long-term
use can potentially lead to nutrient
deficiencies, resulting in health problems,
such as osteoporosis, anemia, and
fatigue. Additionally, people with low
stomach acid are more susceptible to
bacterial or fungal overgrowth, such as
Candida, in their stomach or intestines.
There are many alternatives to the
pharmaceutical approach of blocking
stomach acid production. Ingredients,
such as
zinc carnosine and
deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), heal
the stomach and cure the pain. The
important point to note is that unlike
acid-blocking drugs, these natural
options will not prevent the absorption of
key nutrients.