Meds and low stomach bacteria problems

[serafina]

Hello -
I've been on the meds for 6 months (nexium 40 once a day), and I have become increasingly concerned about what it is doing to the "good" bacteria in my stomach. I'm concerned that I am not getting enough vitamins etc. , but I recently read that breast cancer has been linked to the use of too many antibiotics (500 times or more in total) not because of the medicines themselves but because they deplete the good bacteria in the stomach and can keep women from absorbing the vitamins that they need to fight disease etc. So I make the connection that the PPI's are doing the same thing and I am worried about the consequences of this.

I have started taking a Probiotic but I wonder if this is enough? Can it actually restore all the critical bacteria to my stomach? What else can be done to help the situation?

I'm so tired of asking my doctors questions about this stuff and them telling me not to worry about it.

Does anyone else have the same concerns or suggestions for what to do about it?

[Jasmine]

Hi Serafina

PPIs work in a different way to antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but PPIs are designed to stop acid, not bacteria. However, it may be that the stomach's balances are disturbed by the change in acid levels etc. so I don't suppose topping up your good bacteria levels will do any harm!

If you want to restore the "good" bacteria (Bifidobacteria) in the stomach you're doing the right thing by taking a probiotic. Apparently probiotics are more effective than bio-yoghurts because you'll get exactly the right bacteria, whereas yoghurt is more hit-and-miss. There's an interesting article about this at:

http://www.whatreallyworks.co.uk/start/factsheets.asp?article_ID=124

The article also suggests that you take a supplement of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). These are "sweet-tasting substances derived from plants which feed the good bacteria encouraging them to multiply and which act in the body like fibre."

You could also consider taking a liquid vitamin and mineral supplement which would be more easily absorbed than tablets.

Jasmine