Prenatal Exposure to Acid Suppressants and Kids' IBD Risk: No Need to Worry?

— Exposure tied to modest increased risk of IBD, but with very low absolute risk

June 24, 2026

• 3 min read

Acid-suppressive drugs are mostly considered safe for use in pregnancy, but research has suggested potential adverse health outcomes in children.A South Korean cohort study suggested that prenatal exposure to acid-suppressive drugs did not have a clear association with the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood.While exposure was associated with an elevated risk of IBD, and specifically Crohn's disease, there was no association with ulcerative colitis, and there was no difference in absolute risk differences for any of the conditions.

Prenatal exposure to acid-suppressive drugs did not have a clear association with the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood, a South Korean cohort study suggested.