That’s the latest word from new research that shows heartburn remedies and reflux drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — such as Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium — can weaken bones and increase the risk for breaks. Lani Simpson, M.D., author “Dr. Lani’s No-Nonsense Bone Health Guide,” tells Newsmax TV’s “Meet The Doctors” that many people have no idea the heartburn drugs they are taking may be doing them more harm than good and that safer alternatives can alleviate gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) problems.

 

“I’m not telling anyone to stop taking these medications,” she explains. “But what I am saying is that a lot of people, in fact, can get off of them with the right guidance in working with a nutritionist because a lot of times when people when people have GERD or gastric reflux or acid problems, it’s because of their horrendous diet.”

 

 

 

 

PPIs and other heartburn drugs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach, which helps minimize or even eliminate symptoms. Untreated, GERD can increase the risk for gastroesophageal cancer over time.

 

But some heartburn remedies carry downsides and pose long-term risks. Several studies have shown that long-term daily use of these drugs may increase the risk for bone fractures, pneumonia, and low magnesium levels. A recent Mayo Clinic study found that PPIs can disrupt the makeup of bacteria in the digestive system, potentially boosting the risk of infections and other problems.

 

In addition, PPIs may hike heart disease risks in some people because they constrict blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure and a weakened heart, according to a new study from Houston Methodist Hospital. In addition, PPIs can interact with other drugs, including Plavix, a blood thinner used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Other heartburn drugs — known as H2 antagonists — also block production of stomach acid. While they are older and their effect is not as pronounced as PPIs, their side effects are not considered as problematic.

What’s more, Dr. Simpson explains that heartburn drugs are “horrible for bone” health, and interfere with body’s absorption of protein and calcium, critical to the development and maintenance of strong, healthy bones.

 

“The bones need protein, for instance,” she says. “I see a lot of patients — a lot of older folks in particular — who aren’t getting enough protein or maybe they’re not digesting protein because they’re on proton pump inhibitors or other antacids. And guess what they do? They keep our bodies from making stomach acid … which breaks down protein and gets calcium into the system.”

 

Dr. Simpson notes that we tend to take our bones for granted.

 

“The bones don’t even let us know they’re even there, frankly, unless there’s something wrong with them or we get a fracture,” she says.

 

But maintaining bone strength, density, and quality are key to health and longevity — particularly as we get older, when hormone fluctuations (particularly estrogen) can cause bone loss.

 

“Eighty percent of our lifetime bone mass is laid down by the time we’re 18 years old…and by the time we’re 30, we’re not really actively building bone,” she says. “So by the time you reach 40, 50, 60, and every [later] decade in life, it’s much more difficult to actually build bone density… And as we age [bone] flexibility begins to deplete. And depending on what we eat, how good our digestive system is, and whether or not we exercise will hasten that process.”

 

Dr. Simpson recommends five keys to maintaining bone health:

“Nutrition, gastro-intestinal health and exercise should be the core treatment program,” she says.