–January 2, 2007
A new study has found that certain antacids proton pump inhibitors may increase the risk of hip fracture in those who are taking it.
The study was conducted by University of Pennsylvania researchers and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Dec. 27.
Proton pump inhibitor drugs, such as Nexium, Protonix, Aciphex, Prilosec and Prevacid, are usually prescribed to treat stomach conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease.
If you take acid suppression medications on a chronic basis and you are 50 or older, your hip fracture risk is even higher than usual, said the studys lead author, Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang, who is an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology.
Yang added, In addition, if you are one of the few patients who requires high doses, then your risk is even higher.
Study Details
Yangs team collected data recorded in the General Practice Research Database between 1987 and 2003. The data included information about 13,556 people who suffered hip fractures, and 135,386 healthy people. All of the research subjects were at least 50 years old.
The team found that when taken for more than one year, a proton pump inhibiting drug increased the chance of a hip fracture by 44 percent compared with those who did not take them.
They further found that those who took large doses of these drugs for extended periods of time were 2.6 times more likely to suffer a hip fracture. The risk increased with dosage and duration of medication.
Speculation
Stomach acid helps the body absorb calcium. Because these drugs slow the production of stomach acid, Yang commented, these drugs might be leading to reduced calcium levels in some patients. He said that people taking these drugs should also take a calcium supplement.
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