Letters: Omeprazole and Vitamin B_12

Abstract

Letters1 July 1994Letters: Omeprazole and Vitamin B12Stefan P. Marcuard, MDStefan P. Marcuard, MDEast Carolina University School of Medicine; Greenville, NC 27858-4354Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-121-1-199407010-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Our study design to evaluate protein-bound B12 absorption before and during treatment with omeprazole is appropriate and is known as “self-pairing” [1, 2]. This method eliminates the variability between study patients and “controls.” Although we agree that a placebo group would have strengthened our results, our straightforward study design is adequate to show changes in vitamin B12 absorption during omeprazole therapy.Dr. Lavy's comments indicate a misunderstanding of vitamin B12 digestion and absorption. To correct protein-bound vitamin B12 malabsorption, hydrochloric acid (not vitamin B12) is added to the modified Schilling tests. In fact, this has been done by ...