Many medications can cause nutritional deficiencies, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are no different. Examples of these are Omeprazole, Lansoprazole and Esomeprazole used to lower gastric acid which can cause inflammation, pain and ulcers if too much acid is produced, or if acid moves into places it wouldn’t normally go. To balance your nutrition it is best to take a good magnesium supplement.

 

Several reports have linked long-term PPI intake with an increased risk of hypomagnesemia (low magnesium level), especially when taken for over 12 months. Results of studies suggest that PPIs inhibit absorption of magnesium in the intestine, sometimes due to acidity changes or genetic susceptibility.

 

Severe hypomagnesemia can potentially lead to serious adverse effects including:

1. Arrhythmias,

2. Hypocalcaemia (low calcium),

3. Hypokalaemia (low potassium),

4. Hypoparathyroidism,

5. Muscle spasms,

6. Seizures.

 

Therefore calcium and potassium should also be tested if magnesium is shown to be low.

 

The suggested magnesium supplementation for treating magnesium deficiency depends on the form of magnesium (magnesium is combined with a salt/oxygen). Go with your doctors prescription. Those who are at risk of low magnesium, but don’t have a low result may wish to take a balancing magnesium supplement such as AltruVita Magnesium 100%, containing 100% of your daily needs to keep levels topped up.

 

The seven best foods to eat to increase magnesium in your diets are:

 

1.    spinach,

2.    beans,

3.    peas,

4.    nuts,

5.    lentils,

6.    wholemeal bread,

7.    dried apricots .

 

However, just increasing your magnesium levels through diet is a slow process and not have a significant effect on a magnesium deficiency, as relative amounts are smaller than magnesium supplements.

 

Secondly, vitamin B₁₂ may become a little low. Because gastric acid is needed to release vitamin B₁₂ from protein for absorption, PPIs can reduce the absorption of protein-bound (dietary) vitamin B12 and monitoring of vitamin B₁₂ is recommended.

 

Unless PPI use is prolonged (2 years or more) or dietary vitamin intake is low, obvious symptoms of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency are unlikely. Furthermore, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is more likely in individuals taking high doses of PPIs. Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is expected to diminish after patients discontinue PPI therapy. This however is no option for those needing to stay on a PPI to prevent serious problems in the future. Treating B12 deficiency uses very high doses, so if you are at risk of developing B12 deficiency, our AltruVita CoQ10 + B Complex contains 100% of your daily needs. It may also give you some energy back! Meat, fish, eggs, dairy have good amounts in them but if you avoid animal produce you may be looking at fortified breakfast cereals and a supplement to meet your requirements.

 

If your results also show low calcium and potassium then speak to your doctor about supplementation and regular monitoring of these too. If you suffer from multiple mineral deficiencies, you may also want to ask your doctor about your bone health.