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I’ve never dealt with reflux much myself, so I hadn’t given acid blockers much thought.

But as I dove deeper into the research on iron metabolism, one thing kept coming up: your gut plays a massive role in how well your body absorbs and uses nutrients.

And as we could probably guess, some of the most commonly used medications can quietly interfere with that process.

It’s a fascinating (and slightly alarming) reminder of how deeply connected everything is—gut health, medications, nutrient absorption, energy, brain function. It’s all one system.

In this issue, I’m looking at how acid-blocking meds might be undermining your iron levels without you realizing it and what you can do to protect your energy, even if reflux relief is a daily part of your life.

Why Acid Blockers Can Quietly Drain Your Iron

We’ve probably all taken an acid blocker like Nexium, Prilosec, or Tums for heartburn or reflux at some point or other.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)¹ and antacids² are among the most commonly used medications today. They can bring real relief, but they may also interfere with how your body absorbs iron.

🧪 Your Stomach Needs Acid to Absorb Iron

Most of the iron in your food is called non-heme iron. It comes from plants and fortified foods like cereal and bread. But your body needs stomach acid to absorb it.

Stomach acid helps:

• Change non-heme iron into a form your body can use

• Free up iron that’s stuck in other parts of your food

When you take acid blockers, that process gets interrupted. Your stomach becomes less acidic, so your body has a harder time using the iron you eat.

📉 Long-Term Use = Long-Term Consequences

Studies show that people who use acid blockers for a long time are more likely to become low in iron, even if they eat iron-rich foods or take supplements.

This is especially true if you:

• Have heavy periods

• Eat little or no meat

• Just had a baby

• Already take iron, but still feel tired

All of these things can raise your risk for iron deficiency. Acid blockers make it harder to catch up.

💊 Supplements Aren’t A Guaranteed Fix

Even if you take an iron pill, your body still needs acid to absorb it—especially if it’s a common type like ferrous sulfate. Without enough acid, the supplement may just pass through without helping much.

So if you’re taking both an acid blocker and iron, your body might not be getting what it needs.

💬 Have you ever had to balance reflux relief with nutrient absorption?
I’d love to hear what’s worked for you—especially if you’ve found non-medication strategies that help.

1  Beyond reducing stomach acid, emerging studies suggest that PPIs increase hepcidin expression, the hormone that regulates iron absorption. Increased hepcidin secretion tells our bodies to stop absorbing iron.

2  Older research has shown that liquid antacids containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxides did not significantly decrease iron absorption. Sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate showed 50-67% decreases in iron absorption.