Introduction:

Vitamin B12 deficiencies have been linked to chronic consumption of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The aim of the study is to determine serum levels of vitamin B12 in patients receiving proton pump inhibitors and to describe vitamin B12 levels according to type of PPI, time of use, dosage, patient age and patient gender.

Materials and methods:

Patients older than 18 years of age at the outpatient clinic of the gastroenterology department of Clínica Fundadores (a third-level institution) who had been diagnosed with gastrointestinal disease and who took PPIs were included. Vitamin B12 levels were determined. The collected information was described and analyzed using conventional statistical techniques with analysis stratified according to variables.

Results:

One hundred nine patients were recruited, 78.9% were women, and the average age was 58.9 years. Patients who had been treated with PPIs for more than three years had significantly lower vitamin B12 levels than did patients who had been treated for less than three years (p = 0.022). No statistically significant differences were found according to the type of PPI (p = 0.881 for Esomeprazole, p = 0.098 for Omeprazole, and p = 0.131 for Lansoprazole), age (p = 0.937) or gender (p = 0.519).

Conclusions:

Using PPIs for more than three years is related to decreased serum levels of vitamin B12. The age, gender, type of PPI and dosage used are not independent factors related to these decreases.

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