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Review article: proton pump inhibitors and bacterial overgrowth
Author(s) -
WILLIAMS C.,
McCOLL K. E. L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02707.x
Subject(s) - medicine , gastric acid , bacterial overgrowth , small intestinal bacterial overgrowth , malabsorption , proton pump inhibitor , flora (microbiology) , disease , cancer , proton pump , population , gastroenterology , secretion , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , bacteria , biochemistry , biology , enzyme , atpase , environmental health , irritable bowel syndrome , genetics
Summary Proton pump inhibitors are potent drugs producing profound suppression of gastric acid secretion. Consequently, they are highly effective at treating acid‐related disorders. There have been concerns that the suppression of gastric acid will alter the bacterial flora of the upper gastrointestinal tract and lead to complications such as cancer, enteric or other infections and malabsorption. Studies have confirmed that proton pump inhibitors do alter the bacterial population but present evidence indicates that this only rarely leads to clinical disease. As with all drugs, proton pump inhibitors should only be used for disorders shown clearly to benefit from the therapy and where the benefits will outweigh the small risks associated with them. Further research to more fully quantify the risk associated with PPI therapy is required.