Buttermilk for Stomach Acid & Inflammation: Does it Really Work?

Question
After a recent stomach scope job the Doctor put me on Aciphex 20mg once per day since my stomach had some inflamation. My father had ulcers and an old country doctor prescribed buttermilk 8oz per day and he seemed to be ok after that. Is this really a good remedy for too much stomach acid?  

Answer
Bill,

Buttermilk may be effective, it is alkaline and will combat the stomach acid to neutralize.  However, the stomach parietal cells can compensate and produce more HCl acid.  So the Proton Pump Inhibitors (Aciphex, Prilosec, etc.) are most effective in reducing stomach acid.  Don't know of any studies (scientific) looking into buttermilk v. PPIs.

I would stick with a short course of PPI to allow the stomach lining to heal.

JP Saleeby, MD
www.vitasanus.com