Researchers have found that regular use of acid reflux drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), is linked to a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
And the longer these drugs are taken, the greater the risk seems to be, the findings, published in the journal Gut show, prompting the researchers to advise that people taking these drugs for two or more years should have regular blood glucose check-ups to screen for diabetes.
PPIs are used to treat acid reflux, peptic ulcers, and indigestion.
They are among the top 10 most commonly used drugs worldwide.
“Long-term use has been linked to an increased risk of bone fractures, chronic kidney disease, gut infections and stomach cancer,” said study authors from the Seventh Affiliated Hospital in China.
In 2014, the global prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 8.5 per cent, and the researchers wanted to find out if the widespread use of PPIs and the high prevalence of diabetes might be linked.
They drew on information supplied by 204, 689 participants (176,050 women and 28,639 men) aged 25 to 75.
According to the researchers, participants were also asked whether they had used PPIs regularly in the preceding 2 years: regular use was defined as 2 or more times a week.
During the average tracking period of around 9 to 12 years across all three groups, 10,105 participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
After taking account of potentially influential factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and use of other medication, those who regularly used PPIs were 24 per cent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who didn’t.
And the longer these drugs were taken, the greater was the risk of developing diabetes: use for up to 2 years was associated with a five per cent increased risk; use for more than 2 years was associated with a 26 per cent increased risk. (IANS)
