ObjectivesStudies have reported an association between acid lowering agents (ALAs) such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and malabsorption of vitamin B-12 (B-12). Therefore, we sought to examine the association between ALA use, including PPI and H2RA, and B-12 deficiency in a cohort of older Puerto Rican adults residing in the Boston MA metropolitan area.MethodsThis analysis was conducted within the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS), an ongoing longitudinal cohort that enrolled 1502 self-identified Puerto Rican adults aged 45–75 y at baseline. Our study was comprised of 1428 participants at baseline, with complete baseline data on plasma B-12 concentration, of whom 1155 and 647 participated in wave-2 (mean 2.2 y from baseline ± 0.61 y), and wave-3 (mean 6.2 y ± 0.98 y), collections, respectively. B-12 deficiency was defined as plasma cobalamin <148 pmol/L or methyl malonic acid (MMA) >271 nmol/L. Covariate-adjusted logistic regression was used to examine the association between overall ALA, PPI and H2RA use and B-12 deficiency at baseline and wave-3 (mean 6.2 y) as well as between long-term use (mean 6.2 y) and B-12 deficiency at 6.2 y of follow-up. Logistic mixed effects models were used to examine associations between baseline ALA, PPI and H2RA use and trajectory of B-12 deficiency over 6.2 y of follow-up. Analyses were further stratified for B-12 supplement use, based on food frequency questionnaire.ResultsOf 1428 participants at baseline, 455 were ALA users, of which 361 were PPI, 112 H2RA and 18 concomitant users. In baseline cross-sectional analyses, including analyses stratified for B-12 supplement use, we did not observe an association between ALA, PPI, H2RA use and B-12 deficiency. We also did not observe an association between long-term ALA, PPI, H2RA use and B-12 deficiency at 6.2 y. Further, in trajectory analyses, we did not observe an association between baseline ALA, PPI, H2RA use and trajectory of B-12 deficiency from baseline through 6.2 y follow-up, including in analyses stratified for B-12 supplement use.ConclusionsIn this study we did not observe an association between ALA, PPI, H2RA use and B-12 deficiency over wave-3 (6.2 y) follow-up. Larger studies with more detailed exposure information are needed to further examine these associations.Funding SourcesNIH.
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