Medicines that suppress stomach acid: and the development of food allergies

The development of pharmaceutical substances designed to suppress gastric digestion represents a medical milestone in the treatment of chronic dyspeptic symptoms. Due to the steadily rising number of prescriptions for prescription-only medicines, as well as the increasing availability of over-the-counter equivalents for self-medication, health problems seemingly associated with these potent active ingredients are on the rise. But is there actually a causal link between the development of food allergies and the use of acid-suppressing medicines? Numerous experimental studies and human trials have revealed a correlation between the use of sucralfate, histamine 2 (H2) receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the prevalence of food allergies. Antacid medications appear to increase the risk of sensitisation to proteins and, furthermore, to exacerbate symptoms in individuals already diagnosed with allergies. In addition, acid suppression is thought to increase the hypersensitisation potential of other medications.