Stomach acid blocking drugs are prescribed to patients with Barrett’s esophagus in order to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer. A 2017 literary review and meta-analysis has just shown they’re not actually effective at that. These drugs have a number of potentially very serious side effects, with very few benefits. Proton pump inhibitors are some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. Some common brands include Losec, Zoton, Nexium, Pariet and Prevacid. These drugs are given for conditions such as reflux, heartburn, stomach and intestinal ulcers, as well as the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach. When these drugs are prescribed, most patients end up taking them for the rest of their life. Barrett’s esophagus occurs when there is an abnormal change in the cells of the lower portion of the esophagus. It is essentially a pre-cancerous condition. Chronic reflux from the stomach and bile from the small intestine has changed the cells in such a way that they are on the verge of becoming cancerous. Proton pump inhibitors have been prescribed for decades for this condition, in the hope that they’ll reduce the risk of cancer development. A meta-analysis study has just been published in the medical journal Plos One. It is called Proton Pump Inhibitors Do Not Reduce the Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Patients with Barrett’s Esophagus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The conclusion of the study states the following: “No dysplasia- or cancer-protective effects of proton pump inhibitors usage in patients with Barrett’s esophagus were identified by our analysis. Therefore, we conclude that clinicians who discuss the potential chemopreventive effects of proton pump inhibitors with their patients, should be aware that such an effect, if exists, has not been proven with statistical significance.” Proton pump inhibitors give symptomatic relief of reflux and heartburn. Long term use of these drugs raises the risk of magnesium deficiency, kidney disease, bacterial infections in the intestines, vitamin B12 deficiency, osteoporosis and dementia. So what can you do if you suffer with reflux or heartburn? Here are some suggestions. Reference