Antacids use linked to increased risk of restless leg syndrome: Study

Written By : Medha Baranwal |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2021-05-04T10:00:43+05:30 | Updated On 4 May 2021 3:09 PM IST

USA: The use of antacids PPIs and H2A may increase the risk of restless leg syndrome (RLS), according to a recent study in the journal Sleep. Considering this, the researchers suggest the need for re-evaluating their use in populations at particular risk for RLS.

RLS is a common sensorimotor disorder that is characterized by a compulsion to move one's legs during inactive periods due to discomfort in the legs that is relieved while moving. It can disrupt sleep and is though to be caused in part by low cellular iron stores. Histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2A) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are the commonly used drugs worldwide and show evidence of causing iron deficiency.

Against the above background, Eric J Earley, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, and colleagues aimed to investigate the association between PPI/H2A medication use and RLS risk in two groups of blood donors, one from the United States and another from Denmark.

For the purpose, the researchers conducted a case/non-case observational study of blood donors in the US (N = 13,403; REDS-III) and Denmark (N = 50,323; Danish Blood Donor Study, DBDS). Both the group of donors had complete blood count measures and a completed RLS assessment via the Cambridge–Hopkins RLS questionnaire.

Key findings of the study include:

After adjusting for age, sex, race, BMI, blood donation frequency, smoking, hormone use, and iron supplement use, PPI/H₂A use was associated with RLS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41) in REDS-III for both PPI (OR = 1.43) and H₂A (OR = 1.56).
DBDS exhibited a similar association with PPIs/H₂As (OR = 1.29), and for PPIs alone (OR = 1.27), but not H₂As alone (OR = 1.18).
The researchers found no evidence of blood iron stores mediating this association.

"The association of PPI, and possibly H2A, consumption with RLS independent of blood iron status and other factors which contribute to RLS risk suggest the need to re-evaluate use of PPI/H2A in populations at particular risk for RLS," wrote the authors.

Reference:

The study titled, "Association of proton pump inhibitor and histamine H2-receptor antagonists with restless legs syndrome," is published in the journal Sleep.

DOI: https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/44/4/zsaa220/5942955

journal SleepPPIantacidsRestless leg syndrome

Source : journal Sleep

Medha Baranwal

MSc. Biotechnology

Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751