Antacid is Not a Solution For Acidity : Kidney problems, B12 deficiency

Nisarg Joshi

Acidity

antacids

Solution for acidity is life style corrections and not antacids. Recent report suggests that frequent usage of antacids lead to Kidney problems.

Acidity relievers are over the counter drugs. You can get it without prescriptions. There are many TV ads promoting it. Doctors too prescribe it mindlessly. Common mass’ food obsession is so intense that they prefer one pill after heavy meals.

Take care. Solution for acidity is moderate and simple food. There is no magic pill. All pharma solutions come with side-effects.

My doctor father’s short and sweet preventive advice is priceless. When I asked him, why so many of us, youth, suffering from B12 issue?

He replied: “It is your life style. Alter lifestyle and you will be good. Bad eating habits lead to imbalance in gastric acids secretion…that leads to malfunctioning of B12 absorption. So even if you eat rich B12 food, there is no impact since your body’s ability to absorb is compromised.”

This research report concurs my father’s wisdom.

““the same cell that makes stomach acid also makes a little protein that helps vitamin B-12 be absorbed,” Dr. Douglas Corley, a gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente, and senior researcher states.” [1]

Avoid tea, coffee, and carbonated or alcoholic beverages

Avoid processed and fermented foods

Avoid using excessive garlic, ginger, onions, tomatoes, and vinegar in cooking

Also avoid rich gravies, sour, salty, and spicy foods

Curd should be strictly avoided at night

Take meals in a relaxed atmosphere at regular intervals

Are you firm enough to change your life style? If not, regrettably, there is no alternative.

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Beware: Your reliable antacid may be killing your kidneys

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Beware-Your-reliable-antacid-may-be-killing-your-kidneys/articleshow/49636226.cms

The next time your doctor prescribes proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for acidity, do question if it is really necessary and how long should you take it. For, there is an emerging body of evidence suggesting side-effects including kidney damage on long-term usage of these drugs.

Two of the most recent research indicating the association between kidney damage and PPIs have been published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

The first study followed 10,482 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). Researchers found that PPI users were between 20 to 50% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD) than non PPI-users. These users were also more often Caucasians, obese, and taking anti-hypertensive medication. The second study, led by Dr Pradeep Arora of SUNY-Buffalo, arrived at similar conclusions.

Experts said the suggested links could be due to reduction in levels of magnesium in the blood due to PPIs. But more research is needed.

According to Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-Doc Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Endocrinology, PPIs are the most effective drugs for acidity and related disorders. “Several research conducted in the past have hinted at possible side-effects including kidney damage. But there is no proof to show the cause and effect relationship,” he said.

Stomach acid is natural. It is considered a valuable chemical contributor to orderly digestion. However, excessive acidity often causes heartburn and development of stomach ulcers.

Long-term Antacid Use Linked to B12 Deficiency

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/long-term-antacid-use-linked-to-b12-deficiency/

Proton pump inhibitors and risk of vitamin and mineral deficiency: evidence and clinical implications

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110863/

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain the superior choice worldwide in antisecretory therapy in the evidence-based treatment of upper gastrointestinal disorders including gastroesophageal reflux disease, erosive esophagitis, dyspepsia and peptic ulcer disease. PPI overutilization in ambulatory care settings is often a result of failure to re-evaluate the need for continuation of therapy, or insufficient use of on-demand and step-down therapy. Nonjudicious use of PPIs creates both preventable financial as well as medical concerns. PPIs have been associated with an increased risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies impacting vitamin B12, vitamin C, calcium, iron and magnesium metabolism. While these risks are considered to be relatively low in the general population, they may be notable in elderly and malnourished patients, as well as those on chronic hemodialysis and concomitant PPI therapy. No current evidence recommends routine screening or supplementation for these potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies in patients on either short- or long-term PPI therapy. Reducing inappropriate prescribing of PPIs can minimize the potential risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Association of Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy with Bone Fractures and effects on Absorption of Calcium, Vitamin B12, Iron, and Magnesium

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2974811/

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are now one of the most widely used classes of drugs. PPIs have proven to have a very favorable safety profile and it is unusual for a patient to stop these drugs because of side effects. However, increasing numbers of patients are chronically taking PPIs for gastroesophageal reflux disease and a number of other common persistent conditions, therefore the long-term potential adverse effects are receiving increasing attention. One area that is receiving much attention and generally has been poorly studied, is the long-term effects of chronic acid suppression on the absorption of vitamins and nutrients. This area has received increased attention because of the reported potential adverse effect of chronic PPI treatment leading to an increased occurrence of bone fractures. This has led to an increased examination of the effects of PPIs on calcium absorption/metabolism as well as numerous cohort, case control and prospective studies of their ability to affect bone density and cause bone fractures. In this article these studies are systematically examined, as well as the studies of the effects of chronic PPI usage on VB12, iron and magnesium absorption. In general the studies in each of thee areas have led to differing conclusions, but when examined systematically, a number of the studies are showing consistent results that support the conclusion that long-term adverse effects on these processes can have important clinical implications.

 

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