Tablets
You wouldn’t expect an indigestion medication to increase your risk of a hip fracture – the two don’t seem related – but according to research from the Massachusetts General Hospital, one type of indigestion drug does indeed have this side effect.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed for people with heartburn and acid reflux and, while they do relieve symptoms effectively, they can also prevent your body from absorbing calcium, which could increase your risk of broken bones.
Researchers looked at data from 79,899 post-menopausal women over an eight-year period, assessing their use of PPIs in relation to the likelihood of suffering a hip fracture, as well as checking whether they smoked. Of those in the study, 893 broke their hips, indicating that post-menopausal women are at a 35% increased risk of hip fracture compared to women who have not yet gone through menopause. The results revealed that women who took PPIs over several years and smoked were 50% more likely to have a hip fracture than those who didn’t smoke or take PPIs. Women who took the medication but didn’t smoke had a 25% increased risk of fracture.
Other factors which made a hip fracture more likely included being overweight, reduced physical activity levels, excessive drinking and whether participants took a calcium supplement; taking one made a hip fracture less likely. These factors were taken into account when assessing the increased risk associated with PPIs.
Experts recommend that post-menopausal women get 1,200mg of calcium per day, but anyone who’s getting an adequate intake via their diet, as well as sufficient vitamin D (needed for calcium absorption), may not need a supplement.