Antacids, commonly used to relieve heartburn, indigestion, or an upset stomach by neutralizing stomach acid, have recently shown promise in improving blood sugar control for people with diabetes.
This discovery comes from scientists at the University of Maryland, who found that antacids can help manage glucose levels effectively.
Type 2 diabetes is a major global health issue, affecting nearly 10 percent of the world’s population. Managing this condition typically involves a combination of diet and lifestyle changes, medications, or insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check.
Now, new evidence suggests that over-the-counter antacids might also play a role in this management.
In their study, the researchers discovered that adding antacids to the standard diabetes treatment regimen was more effective at lowering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and fasting blood sugar than standard therapy alone.
HbA1c is a measure of average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months, and lower levels indicate better blood sugar control.
To reach these conclusions, the team conducted a meta-analysis, examining the effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a type of antacid, on blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
They also looked at whether these medications could prevent diabetes in the general population. Their analysis included seven studies with a total of 342 participants for glycemic control and five studies involving 244,439 participants for diabetes risk.
The results showed that antacids could reduce HbA1c levels by 0.36% and lower fasting blood sugar by 10 mg/dl in people with diabetes, based on findings from seven clinical trials.
However, for individuals without diabetes, antacids did not significantly affect the risk of developing the disease.
These findings suggest that people with diabetes might benefit from the glucose-lowering effects of antacid medications. Healthcare providers could consider this additional benefit when prescribing these common medications to their patients.
This research, led by Carol Chiung-Hui Peng and her team, was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It highlights the potential for repurposing existing medications, like antacids, to provide new benefits for managing diabetes.
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