Recent research published in Nature Journal confirmed a new allergy link that may be surprising to some, but if you’re well versed in the dangers of common medications, the link shouldn’t come as a shock. Researchers in Austria conducted an almost countrywide study of 8 million people — 97% of the country’s population — by examining their health insurance records over a time period of four years. The study resulted in two discoveries: People who used prescription antacids were twice as likely to require anti-allergy medication in the years following — and the link proved more prevalent among women and older adults.
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Studies have previously shown a link between antacid use in pregnant women and asthma development in their children. Antacids are among the most widely prescribed medications in the world, yet they’ve been linked to many health issues, including gastrointestinal infections and vitamin B12 deficiency.
Acid reflux is an extremely common health problem, affecting as many as 50 percent of Americans. Symptoms of acid reflux, or GERD, include heartburn, wheezing, tightness in your throat or a feeling that food is stuck in your throat. The class of medications used to treat acid reflux and chronic heartburn are known as proton pump inhibitors or PPIs — the medications examined in the study.
Your cells use a proton pump to produce acid. PPI medications are designed to inhibit the proton pump and reduce the amount of acid produced. PPIs do not specifically target the cells in your stomach, and stomach acid is usually not the primary trigger behind chronic heartburn. Researchers found that as little as six doses of antacids taken each year was enough to impact the likelihood of needing anti-allergy medication in the following years. Higher doses showed a higher increase in likelihood.
When PPIs were first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they were designed to be taken for no more than six weeks. However, today it is not uncommon to find people who have been taking these drugs for more than 10 years. Long-term use has been associated with a number of different problems, including bacterial overgrowth, reduced nutrient absorption, low stomach acid, decreased resistance to infection and increased risk of bone fractures.
Researchers believe the allergy link is due to the effect of antacids on the immune system. Antacids can cause an imbalance in the stomach’s acid levels, which can then affect food digestion and allow larger protein fragments to flow into the intestines. There, they can act as proto-allergens and cause the immune system to become hypersensitive, resulting in an allergy.