Pharmacist Christina Brunner | 02/11/2023
Active ingredients such as pantoprazole, esomeprazole and omeprazole inhibit the production of gastric acid. People who suffer from heartburn, acid regurgitation, or acid-related ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract benefit from taking medications known as acid blockers. But if you have to take these drugs for a long time, you can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency.
There are risks in frequently resorting to acid blockers for heartburn. image.originalResource.properties.copyright
Too little stomach acid prevents the absorption of vitamin B12. Only the acid releases it from the food, so that it enters the body via the intestines using special transport mechanisms. Vitamin B12 is an important factor in the formation of red blood cells and also helps protect nerve cords. A deficiency only becomes noticeable following several months or years. For example, tablets, capsules or liquids with vitamin B12 are available in pharmacies to prevent and treat a deficiency. They replenish the body’s stores.
