Antacid use in pregnancy may increase child asthma risk

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Antacid use in pregnancy may increase child asthma risk -

The study, published online in the Journal of Clinical and

Experimental Allergy, tracked 585,000 children born in Sweden.

Using various registries, the researchers were able to obtain

information on whether the mothers took antacids during pregnancy,

had any history of allergy and whether their children were ever

hospitalized for allergic disorders or received a prescription for

allergies or asthma.

They found that 1% of the children had been exposed to acid

suppression medications during pregnancy and more than 5% had

received a diagnosis of allergies or asthma.

The mother's use of antacids was linked to a 43% greater likelihood

that a child would have an allergic condition, with asthma being the

most common.

The increased asthma risk in the child was highest among mothers with

no history of allergies who took antacids during pregnancy.

Although this is the first study to link antacid use in pregnancy to

an increased asthma risk in children, other studies have hinted at a

relationship.

Previous research has shown that acid-suppressing drugs increase the

risk of allergies in adults.

Antacids may prevent the complete breakdown of proteins in food that

triggers the immune system to view the proteins as allergens.

Studies in animals have also shown antacid consumption produces

higher levels of immune cells during pregnancy.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2008/12/antacid-use-

in.html

Alana