Yale Study Finds Possible Alternative to Proton Pump Inhibitors

New Haven, CTA new study out of Yale shows that zinc salt may offer fast relief from heartburn without the risks associated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

The researchers from the Yale School of Medicine were looking into how ion transporters interact during acid secretion and discovered that zinc can stop such secretion.

"Our study showed that, at the cellular level, zinc is a direct suppressor of gastric acid secretion," said lead author Dr. John Geibel, professor of surgery and cellular and molecular physiology and vice chair of surgery at Yale School of Medicine. "This opens a promising new avenue of treatment for suffering patients, especially the many who continue to have symptoms of acid-related illness even after a standard dose of PPIs."

According to the study, which was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the zinc level in those who take PPIs often drops, which can result in neuronal damage and digestive tract problems.

"Taking zinc orally not only appears to work on its own, but may provide better, more long-lasting results when taken in conjunction with PPIs," Geibel said.

The use of PPIs has been connected to an increased risk of bone fracture.