[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-health-basics\/ppi-antacids-increase-fracture-risk\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-health-basics\/ppi-antacids-increase-fracture-risk\/","headline":"Proton Pump Inhibitors antacids increase fracture risk","name":"Proton Pump Inhibitors antacids increase fracture risk","description":"Print PDF eBook Facebook Twitter Gmail LinkedIn Pinterest Are the medications you\u2019re taking for heartburn and acid reflux increasing your fracture risk? Proton pump inhibitor antacids (PPIs) like omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium) and others can seriously increase your risk of fracture \u00a030 to 50% \u2014 and even up to 200% according to one […]","datePublished":"2017-01-27","dateModified":"2026-04-28","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/#Person","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/author\/brownbetterbonesgmail-com\/","identifier":72,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e08d87bd45250c6616e1752933a6576aba077f335d97ee337a0cde5e435cbd3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Center for Better Bones","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Better-Bones-AMP.png","width":150,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/image.png","url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/image.png","height":1109,"width":2120},"url":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-health-basics\/ppi-antacids-increase-fracture-risk\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI","name":"Antacids, Probiotics, & Osteoporosis","description":"Strong digestion is important for strong bone health.  Dr. Brown talks with nutritionist Martie Whittekin about her best selling book, \"Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet and Prilosec,\" which highlights the problem of proton pump inhibitors and their effects on digestion.  Together, they explain why we shouldn't take a shortcut to these drugs before exploring natural alternatives first.\n\nTo purchase Martie's book, you can visit her website at http:\/\/hbnshow.com\/.  It is also available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.\n\n\u2192 Want to learn everything you need to manage & reverse your osteoporosis\/osteopenia naturally in one inspiring weekend with Dr. Brown? Join our bone health retreat & workshop! Learn more here: https:\/\/shop.betterbones.com\/pages\/love-your-bones-love-your-life-virtual-retreat\n\n\u2192 If you are interested in working with Dr. Brown to develop a personalized natural bone health program, read more about consultations here: https:\/\/www.betterbones.com\/consultations\/help-osteoporosis-osteopenia-fracture-healing-bone-health-concerns\/\n\n\u2192 Would you like your questions answered by Dr. Brown?  Comment below and she may address them in a future video!\n\nCheck out our website! \u2192 http:\/\/ www.betterbones.com\n\nWant to connect with Better Bones on social media?\nLike on Facebook \u2192 http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\u200bFollow on Twitter \u2192 http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/drsusanbrown\n\u200bFollow our Instagram \u2192 http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\u200bCheck out our Pinterest \u2192 http:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/betterbonesbetterbody\n\n#osteoporosis #osteopenia #bonemass #bonehealth #weightandbonemass #womenshealth #drsusanbrown #betterbonesbetterbody #preventosteoporosis\nExercise for bone health: patreon.com\/betterbones\n\nTranscription:\nhi everyone is a Susan today I want to\nintroduce you to a really good friend of\nmine\nMarty Witten who is a nutritionist\noutside of Dallas I've known her two\nyears and she's written a terrific book\non the problem with proton pump\ninhibitors and anyone with a concern\nwith bone health should really be\nconcerned with having strong digestion\nif you find that you're needing proton\npump inhibitors you really need to read\nthis book the book is called natural\nalternatives to nexium and other acid\nblockers Marty welcome I'm glad to have\nyou with me today well thank you for the\ninvitation I'm thrilled to be able to\nshare this message it's an important\nmessage and the book is important to\neveryone Marty maybe you could take a\nsecond you know we we really specialize\nin bone health we have many many women\nwho are trying to build their bone\nhealth doing all sorts of things to\nbuild their bone health yet some of them\nfind they have digestive problems can\nyou tell us why proton pump inhibitors\ndrugs why proton pump inhibitor drugs\nmight be a problem for these women well\nwe have to start with the original plan\nnature had it all figured out we need\nstomach acid to do a number of things\nand when we don't have stomach acid in\nproper amounts we run into trouble with\nvitamin b12 with digesting protein but\nin this case talking about bone health\nthe absorption of a variety of minerals\nis inhibited if we don't have stomach\nacid the problem is these drugs do\nexactly what they say the ones you do\nthey block the production of stomach\nacid in order to deal with a symptom\nthey stop a natural process and there\nare there are consequences for the long\nterm use and long term use is really\nanything more than a couple of weeks but\nif you read the package that's all\nthey're approved for now that's really\nvery important because many people are\nusing these for months years on end so\nreally they're recommended for a couple\nweeks and after that you really have to\nthink\nproblems like poor absorption of\nminerals import absorption of other\nnutrients and even even the FDA just\nusually we don't do this or anything\nthey put a warning on the medication\nsaying that if you use it for more than\na year you might be short in magnesium\nwell from your standpoint magnesium is\ncritical for bone health but also give\nsome thought to the fact that it's\nimportant to keep your beat up your\nheart beating regularly which everybody\nmight have some interest in yes exactly\nwe pay attention to calcium but we\nforget magnesium zinc copper all of\nthese things are very important and the\nuptake of all of those is influenced by\nthe hydrochloric acid so that's really\nso important and if a person so Marty\nwhat do you suggest if some of our women\nare using proton pump inhibitors what's\nthe first steps they take to begin to\nunravel this story we know that the use\nof these drugs is associated with a\ngreater risk for fracture so we know we\nshould do something what it is everyone\nshould get the book but outside of that\nwhat are some of the first steps they\ncan take when I do book signings and\nthere are physicians in the line waiting\nfor a book they kind of looked side to\nside make sure nobody's listening and","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q_IsG1xJ5wI\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q_IsG1xJ5wI\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q_IsG1xJ5wI\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q_IsG1xJ5wI\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/q_IsG1xJ5wI\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2016-10-20T14:38:01+00:00","duration":"PT9M18S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q_IsG1xJ5wI","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCm6Zry9uGdrZpm05sQLIxMw#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCm6Zry9uGdrZpm05sQLIxMw","name":"Dr. Susan E. Brown","description":"Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD, is a medical anthropologist, a New York State Certified Nutritionist, and the author of Better Bones, Better Body -- the first comprehensive look at natural bone health. Dr. Brown specializes in osteoporosis, osteopenia, bone health regeneration, and auto-immune disease. She is also famous for her natural approach to bone health; check out her Better Bones programs and products.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_m0l08uY9k8RO1FbN8-VsYIOa8fiq9BtocNNM_k3xw7a7s=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":4084}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_IsG1xJ5wI#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":30}]},"about":["Bone Health Basics"],"wordCount":574,"keywords":["Fracture","antacids","heartburn","acid reflux"],"articleBody":" Print PDF eBook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPinterest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre the medications you\u2019re taking for heartburn and acid reflux increasing your fracture risk?Proton pump inhibitor antacids (PPIs) like omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium) and others can seriously increase your risk of fracture \u00a030 to 50% \u2014 and even up to 200% according to one study. In fact, the risk is so great the FDA issued a warning about it.What\u2019s more, this class of medications is among the most overprescribed drugs (as well as being available over the counter), and it is estimated that up to 70% of people taking them don\u2019t really need them.Table of ContentsToggle     3 Minutes ReadWhat\u2019s the problem with proton pump inhibitor antacids?Recent research shows other serious damaging effectsWhat\u2019s the problem with proton pump inhibitor antacids?One likely reason for the problems with the PPIs is that inhibition of stomach acid means less nutrient absorption and therefore reduced bone strength. The effects of PPIs on nutrient absorption is well-documented and affects calcium, iron, magnesium, B12, and other key bone nutrients.Nutrient depletion in turn leads to lower trabecular bone density and susceptibility to low-impact fracture.Recent research shows other serious damaging effects 50% increase in risk of chronic kidney disease58% increase in risk of heart attack44% increased risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer\u2019s in people age 75 and olderA significant increase in serious gastrointestinal infections such as  difficile.Symptom suppression often leads to dysregulation of the entire body; that\u2019s why the Better Bones, Better Body approach takes the perspective that identifying and correcting the root cause of a symptom is a more life-supporting approach.PS: In the attached video, I interview my colleague, nutritionist Martie Whittekin, CCN, author of Natural Alternatives to\u00a0Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec, and Other Acid Blockers.\u00a0 While this is a serious topic, the interview is fun and informative and well worth watching. References:Andersen BN, Johansen PB, Abrahamsen B. Proton pump inhibitors and osteoporosis. Curr. Opin. Rheumatol. 28(4):420\u2013425, 2016.Forgacs I, Loganayagam A. Overprescribing proton pump inhibitors. BMJ, 336(7634):2\u20133, 2008.Gomm W, von Holt K, Thom\u00e9 F, et al. Association of proton pump inhibitors with risk of dementia: A pharmacoepidemiological claims database analysis. JAMA Neurol. 73(4): 410\u2013416, 2016.Ito T, Jensen RT. Association of long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy with bone fractures and effects on absorption of calcium, vitamin B12, iron and magnesium. Curr. Gastroenterol.Rep. 12(6):448\u2013457, 2010.Wei L, Ratnayake L, Phillips G, et al. Acid suppression medications and bacterial gastroenteritis: a population-based study cohort. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 2016 DOI: 10.1111\/bcp.13205.Maggio M, Lauretani F, Ceda GP, et al. Use of proton pump inhibitors is associated with lower trabecular bone density in older individuals. Bone, 57(2):437\u2013442, 2013.Moberg LM, Nilsson PM, Samsioe G, Borgfeldt C. Use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and history of earlier fracture are independent risk factors for the fracture in postmenopausal women. The WHILA study. Maturitas, 78(4): 310\u2013315, 2014.Schoenfeld AJ, Grady D. Adverse effects associated with proton pump inhibitors. JAMA Intern. Med., 176(2):172\u2013174, 2016.Shih CJ, Chen YT, Ou DM, et al. Proton pump inhibitor use represents an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. Int. Cardiol., 177(1):292\u2013297, 2014.Whittekin M.\u00a0 Natural Alternatives to\u00a0Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec and other Acid Blockers. Square One Publishers, Garden City Park, New York, 2012.Zhou B, Huang Y, Li H, Sun W, Liu J. Proton pump inhibitors and risk of fracture; an update meta-analysis. Osteoporosis Int., 27(1):339\u2013347, 2016.   Explore the full research on this in our resource on how pH balance protects your bones."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Bone Health Basics","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-health-basics\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Proton Pump Inhibitors antacids increase fracture risk","item":"https:\/\/betterbones.com\/bone-health-basics\/ppi-antacids-increase-fracture-risk\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]