Nordic Study Finds No Link Between Long-Term Heartburn Meds and Stomach Cancer

A 26-year Nordic registry-based study across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden found no increased stomach cancer risk with long-term (over one year) use of proton pump inhibitors or H2 receptor antagonists after adjusting for age, sex, Helicobacter pylori infection treatment, ulcer history, smoking, alcohol-related diseases, obesity or diabetes, and other factors. While observational and unable to prove causation, the study mitigates biases of earlier research and suggests safety for patients reliant on these medications.