Prolonged Use of Indigestion Drugs Make Bones Brittle: Study

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), the drugs commonly prescribed to combat indigestion and heartburn troubles, actually increase the risk of osteoporosis - the “brittle bone” disease - if taken regularly, a new Canadian study warns.

For the study, the researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada looked into medical records of over 60,000 adults aged above 50. Of them, nearly 16,000 had suffered a fractured hip, spine or wrist due to osteoporosis.

An insight into the prescriptions records revealed that those participants who had suffered hip fractures were 62 per cent more likely to have used PPIs for five years, compared to ones who had healthy hips. Also, there was a 44 percent higher chance of suffering a hip fracture among those who used the drugs regularly for over five years.

Furthermore, the risk of a fracture soared by over 400 per cent among those on the PPI drugs for 7 years or more, the researchers found.

Though it’s still unclear about how these drugs damage the bones, researchers believe that the regular intake of the drugs blocks the acid productions, thereby stopping the body from absorbing calcium needed to build strong bones.

The findings of the study feature in the current issue of the journal Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Cautioning to weigh the risks of the drugs against the benefits reaped, Professor Chris Hawkey, president-elect of the British Society of Gastroenterology marked, "These are very safe drugs but there are some areas where they are probably overused, such as for minor indigestion."

While for patients with severe stomach problems, such as bleeding ulcers, the benefits of the drugs still outweigh the associated risks, however, researchers advice that the usage of the drugs must be accompanied with an updated medical advice.