How does PPI affect the body long term?
Did you know that since PPIs are reducing the acidity of the stomach acid, it causes a chain of events that eventually can lead to a lack of nutrients and some serious diseases – like osteoporosis and dementia?
The importance of stomach acid
Stomach acid is the liquid inside your stomach. It consists, among other things, of hydrochloric acid – a strongly corrosive acid that has three important tasks in your stomach:
- Break down the food that you eat.
- Make it easier for the body to absorb important nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly.
- Kill harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites and protect your body from many diseases.
How does PPI affect the stomach acid?
Acid-reducing medication is a type of drug used to minimize the effects of stomach acid in the body.
This is done by either neutralizing the existing acid in the stomach, or reducing the production of new acid. Both methods reduce the acidity in the stomach.
Too little stomach acid causes lots of problems
What this means in reality is that the body is losing a very important function. When stomach acid becomes less acidic, our bodies find it harder to break down the food we eat.
When the food has not had time to break down sufficiently before it reaches the intestines, it becomes more difficult for us to absorb important nutrients that the body needs to function. In addition, we can contract diseases via the stomach when the stomach acid is no longer acidic enough to kill various bacteria and parasites.
“The doctors put me on PPIs and they helped a little, but I never liked the PPIs. They have so many side effects.”
Read Julie’s story here
The risks of long-term PPI use
The body can usually manage the lack of nutrients for some time, but when we start using PPIs for longer periods of time, the lack of nutrients is starting to show in our bodies in different ways.
These are some known side effects of long-term PPI use.
Nutritional deficiency
Research shows that long-term use of PPIs can have negative effects on the body’s ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial for proper bodily function, muscles and bone density.
Calcium, vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium are some of the nutrients we may become deficient in.
Increased bacterial growth
Lower acidity can increase bacterial growth in the stomach and intestines. This can lead to side effects such as:
- Increased risk of pneumonia
- Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
- Stomach ulcers
- Atrophic gastritis (which can increase the risk of stomach cancer)
Increased risk of osteoporosis
Long-term use of acid-reducing medications, especially proton pump inhibitors, may increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
This is primarily because the body has more difficulty absorbing calcium, which is necessary for bone density, but also because the formation of new bone tissue is affected.
Potentially increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Research shows that there might be a connection between the use of acid-reducing medications, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. This is most likely due to a vitamin B12 deficiency – caused by the fact that we cannot absorb nutrients properly during long-term use of PPIs.
Research is still ongoing in this area and all research does not show an equally clear connection between the drugs and dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Occasions when long-term use is necessary
There are instances where PPIs may need to be used for an extended period. Here are some examples:
- During treatment with NSAID medications, when the patient has a history of stomach ulcers
- In high-risk patients with a history of ulcers or bleeding in any part of the gastrointestinal tract
- Patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus
With such long-term use, however, regular check-ups are necessary to detect any potential side effects of the medications.
I ended up taking the PPIs, but was not happy to read the long list of possible side effects listed inside the packet.
Read Linda’s story here
But the stomach acid is causing me too much discomfort!
We know. When the stomach acid ends up where it’s not supposed to be – in the esophagus, throat and mouth – it can be almost unbearable. Symptoms like heartburn, acid reflux, chest pain, coughing and the feeling of a lump in the throat can make it really hard not take those pills.
So the real question we should ask ourselves is:
How can we get the stomach acid to stay in the stomach where it’s supposed to be?
An alternative to PPIs
IQoro is an alternative to PPIs that strengthens the weakened muscles that cause the stomach acid to leak up and cause discomfort. This treats the root cause behind your symptoms.
When your muscles get stronger, you can start to slowly come off the medications over time, following the recommended guidelines to avoid rebound effect.
How IQoro works
IQoro activates the nerves and weakened muscles that cause your discomfort.
When you use IQoro regularly, the muscles are strengthened and the discomfort disappears.
The training routine is easy to implement and only takes 30 seconds.
Does IQoro replace medication?
When you start training with IQoro, you may need to continue taking the medication you’re already using alongside the training—until your muscles are strong enough to keep the stomach acid in place.
Over time, you’ll be able to gradually taper off the medication until you eventually replace your PPIs entirely with IQoro training. Be sure not to stop your medication abruptly, as this could lead to what is known as the rebound effect.
Always consult your prescribing doctor if you wish to reduce any prescribed medication.
After doing some research, the side effects from all these drugs petrified me.
Read Kevin’s story here
Government-funded research proves the effect
Studies on training with IQoro are conducted by research teams at Swedish universities with various professions including surgery, ear-nose-throat, speech therapy, gastroenterology, and radiology.
The research is funded by government funds and research foundations.
IQoro studies on the treatment of a hiatal hernia
Three of the studies conducted on the effect of IQoro, focus on the treatment of a hiatal hernia. Here we take a closer look at these studies.
IQoro winner of the Bionow Product of the Year Award
IQoro has been awarded the prestigious Product of the Year award at the Bionow Awards held in Manchester on 7 March 2024. IQoro was the only foreign nominated entry to win the award, which according to the jury stood out for its effectiveness and ability to replace drugs and surgery.
The winning product is effective, easy to scale and can offset the need for surgery and medication so is therefore very impactful. Read more about the award