Study Links Heartburn Drugs, Broken Hip
(Chicago, AP, 12/26/06)

Based on electronic records for more than 145,000 patients in England, Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and team, found a link between taking proton pump inhibitors, which are used to treat heartburn, and an increased risk of hip fractures in older adults. The investigators report that older adults who took such drugs—including Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec—for a year or more, had a significantly higher risk of suffering broken hips. The scientists speculate that by reducing stomach acid, the drugs compromise the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which leads to weaker bones. The study suggests that physicians should take into account bone-health issues when prescribing these popular drugs.

(Journal of the American Medical Association, December 2006)