Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are associated with hospitalization for hypomagnesemia, specifically among patients also receiving diuretics, according to research published this week in PLOS Medicine. The study suggests that doctors should reconsider long-term PPI therapy for patients with a diagnosis of hypomagnesemia or concurrent use of diuretics.
More than 50% of Americans are magnesium deficient, so this applies to half the population on proton pump inhibitors. Magnesium plays a key role in more than 350 enzymes in the body and is involved in virtually every metabolic process occurring in the body.
How does one know if you are magnesium deficient? Serum magnesium is not the answer. Serum magnesium only represents only 1% of magnesium stores. Magnesium is homeostatically controlled in the serum and measuring serum magnesium levels provides many false negatives. By the time your serum magnesium is low, you are very deficient as the body cannot maintain the serum magnesium levels. RBC magnesium is definitely better and the most accurate test we have. This can be done by most labs and all functional medicine labs.
There are approximately 145 million prescriptions for PPI dispensed in the US each year for acid-related disorders such asdyspepsiaand GERD. These medication are widely regarded as safe. However, many adverse effects have been identified. Since 2006 there has been thirty case studies linked to the long-term use of PPIs to hypomagnesemia, possibly caused by impaired intestinal absorption of magnesium. Hypomagnesemia is dangerous when severe and can be associated with arrhythmias, skeletal muscle dysfunction, and seizures.
Proton pump inhibitors may not be the solution. Natural treatments offer a more effective approach than what is provided by proton pump inhibitors.
Some nutritional support to consider that improve your digestive function are probiotics and glutamine. In addition, deglycyrrhiizinated licorice (DGL) helps relax the esophageal sphincter and is soothing and protecting to the gastric mucosa and mucous membranes lining the digestive tract.
Natural treatments offer a more effective approach than what is provided by proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors can induce several nutrient deficiencies in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. In addition, they can cause serious neuromuscular and cardiovascular problems and increase the chance of hip fracture in people over 50 years of age.
Source:Medicine, PLOS. "Patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors incombination with diuretics face increased risk of hospitalization for low bloodmagnesium."
Learn more about the functional medicine approach for many other chronic health conditions from Dr. Michael Jurgielewicz, and others, through the educational platform Functional Medicine & Nutrition Virtual Classroom with Dr. David Brady & Friends at OnlineCE.com/DrBrady