Stomach Drugs, Cancer and Lifestyle
An association between proton pump
inhibitor drugs, (PPIs) and stomach cancer has finally been positively
identified. A study by the University of Hong Kong and University College
London published in Gut, a leading international journal in gastroenterology
and herpetology, has shown that long term use of PPIs presents a 2.4 times
higher risk of developing stomach cancer.
A link between PPIs and a higher stomach cancer risk has previously been
identified by academics – but never in a study that first eliminates Helicobacter
pylori (HP), a bacterium suspected
of fuelling the illness’s development.
The PPI study found that after HP was removed, the risk of
developing the disease still rose in line with the dose and duration of PPI
treatment. However patients on H2
blockers, another class of drugs that are prescribed to reduce stomach acid
production, had no increase in cancer prevalence compared to those on PPIs.
More than 50m prescriptions for PPIs are handed out every year in UK for
stomach ulcers and their causes. PPIs are also prescribed for acid reflux
causing heartburn and inflammation of the gullet, (which can itself lead to oesophageal
cancer).
As always, prevention is better than cure. Acid reflux and consequent
heartburn and inflammation of the gullet, can be caused by obesity, smoking or
alcohol excess. Any of these can lead to a number of life-threatening cancers. Combined
together, obesity, tobacco and alcohol excess are a lethal cocktail that
will certainly ensure a shortened life, if not from one of a number of consequent
cancers such as cancer of the colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas,
kidney, gullet or postmenopausal breast.
Ian MacWatt
Further Reading
Gut MBJ PPIs and gastric cancer risk study
Patient Platform Proton Pump Inhibitors
Healthline H2 Blockers
National Cancer Institute Obesity and Cancer
New England Journal ofMedicine Body Fatness and Cancer
NHS Choice Indigestion
No comments:
Post a Comment