According to a study published this summer in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, people who use omeprazole are more likely to get COVID-19. (1, 2)
Omeprazole is in a class of drugs called “Proton Pump Inhibitors”, or PPIs, which reduce stomach acid output by 99%. PPIs include brands such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid.
The long-term, twice-daily use of PPIs doubles the odds of testing positive COVID-19, even after taking into account a range of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables.
They are among the most popular drugs prescribed in America, where omeprazole accounted for $5.6 billion in retail sales in 2016, during which it was dispensed more than 70 million times.
A Recipe for Indigestion
Each day, 25 million Americans suffer from heartburn and 20% of Americans experience it weekly. Heartburn is the burning pain in the chest and throat after a meal. It may include a bitter or acidic taste, hoarseness or cough.
Over time, the reflux of acid burns the delicate tissue lining the esophagus and can lead to Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, and eventually esophageal cancer.
Why do so many Americans struggle with heartburn? It’s simple: heartburn is a natural response to eating the Standard American (SAD) Diet: a man-made mix of sugar and refined carbs, artificial fats, processed protein, and booze.
This SAD diet isn’t real food to begin with, and when we eat this way our stomach naturally rejects it by sending it back out the nearest exit burning the esophageal tissues on its way back up.
Is it any wonder that the acid-blocking drugs are among the most commonly prescribed meds in the US today?
Reducing 99% of acid production by the stomach has a range of consequences, including poor digestion and absorption, a shift in the intestinal microbiome, and now an increased risk for testing positive to COVID-19. Read on…
The Gut - Immune Connection
PPIs reduce 99% of stomach acid output, resulting in the loss of the acidic barrier that normally kills microbes entering through the mouth. This acid is there for a reason, and reducing its presence disables one of the ways our body fights off bacterial and viral infections. And once the microbes are in, the trouble begins.
Dr. Brennan Spiegel, MD, editor of the American Journal of Gastroenterology and co-author of the study says “Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 are capable of hijacking the gastrointestinal tract quickly; we know that,” says Spiegel. “It can invade, replicate, and multiply efficiently. There is even a theory that maybe it uses the intestines as a kind of home base where it entrenches itself and then spreads throughout the body.”
So disabling the acidic chemical barrier that Nature built into our digestive tract can result in increased susceptibility to infections, including C. difficile, acute gastroenteritis and now, an increased risk for COVID-19.
Here are 5 other reasons to wean off of the PPIs and address the underlying cause of heartburn. Their long-term use can result in:
Reduced absorption of essential vitamins like vitamin B12, leading to anemia
Reduced absorption of minerals like calcium and magnesium, leading to increased fractures of the hip, wrist and spine and osteoporosis
Withdrawal from PPIs leads to severe rebound acid secretion in many users, compromising their ability to discontinue their use
Increased risk of community-acquired pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia (2)
Kidney problems
On July 30, 2020, the FDA added PPIs to its Watch List of drugs for which there is a potential sign of serious risk. (3)
So what’s the solution?
To eliminate heartburn, simple dietary and lifestyle changes are required.
After years of helping people resolve chronic indigestion and heartburn, I’ve created this document to help you make the dietary and lifestyle changes that are known to reduce the incidence of heartburn without the use of meds.
The Bottom Line
While PPIs reduce stomach acid output, their use does not solve the problem. There is a place for these meds and if you need them, limit their use to the recommended 14-day treatment, while you begin making the dietary and lifestyle changes that make their daily, long-term use unnecessary.
Solving chronic heartburn can be challenging and may require the help of a practitioner trained in the dietary and lifestyle shifts needed to safely wean off of PPIs. If you know someone who needs help doing this, I’d be happy to support them through my practice at the Marin Natural Medicine Clinic in Larkspur, CA
Since I wrote this article, so much has changed and it hasn't been good news. So, I want you to take control by boosting your health and immunity with a few simple switches that include nutrient-dense recipes and better immune-supporting food choices. Join me now for my new online, self-paced course, The Good Food Way to Power Up Your Immune System that includes videos of my best healing recipes, step-by-step cooking classes, strategies, and lifestyle changes all designed to help you thrive during these unprecedented times.
The added bonus is that this energizing and educational course also MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE to a healthy digestion, better sleep, and overall mental health.
(1) https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/933645
(2) https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Documents/AJG-20-1811_R1(PUBLISH%20AS%20WEBPART).pdf
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