Based on NIH | Does eating broccoli right before taking omeprazole affect its absorption or effectiveness?

Eating broccoli right before taking omeprazole is unlikely to meaningfully change how well omeprazole works, but taking omeprazole with any food (including broccoli) can lower how much of the drug gets into your system compared with taking it on an empty stomach. For best results, omeprazole is generally taken before a meal, ideally on an empty stomach. [SW23 pipeline] ^[1]

How omeprazole is absorbed

• Omeprazole delayed‑release capsules contain enteric‑coated granules that start absorbing after they leave the stomach, because the drug is unstable in acid. This design means timing with meals can matter for how quickly and how much drug is absorbed. ^[2]
• Food tends to slow the rate and sometimes reduce the extent of omeprazole absorption; across formulations, fed conditions often lower peak levels and overall exposure compared with fasting. These changes can blunt the immediate acid‑suppressing effect even if total exposure is sometimes similar. ^{[3] [4]}

What official instructions say

• Product labeling consistently advises: take omeprazole before eating; many clinicians suggest 30–60 minutes before breakfast so active drug is present when proton pumps are stimulated by the meal. ^{[5] [1]}
• When omeprazole contents are mixed with certain soft foods for swallowing, effects vary by dose and vehicle (for example, applesauce with a 20 mg capsule reduced peak levels by about 25%, though overall exposure did not change; clinical impact is uncertain). This illustrates that co‑administration with food can alter pharmacokinetics, even if not always clinically significant. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Broccoli specifically: what we know and don’t know

• There is no direct clinical study showing that broccoli itself, eaten once right before a dose, significantly impairs omeprazole absorption or effectiveness.
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli contain isothiocyanates that can interact with drug transporters and liver enzymes, and habitual high intake can increase certain enzyme activities (such as CYP1A2). However, omeprazole is primarily cleared by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4, not CYP1A2, so a single serving of broccoli around a dose is unlikely to cause a meaningful effect on omeprazole’s levels.
• In practical terms, any “food effect” from broccoli right before dosing will resemble the general fed‑state effect seen with meals: slower and potentially reduced absorption compared with fasting, rather than a broccoli‑specific interaction. ^{[3] [4]}

Practical guidance

• To maximize efficacy: take omeprazole on an empty stomach, about 30–60 minutes before a meal (commonly before breakfast). ^{[5] [1]}
• If your schedule requires food close to the dose, try to leave a gap (e.g., take omeprazole first, then eat after 30–60 minutes). This approach helps ensure optimal acid suppression when you start eating. ^{[5] [1]}
• Consistency matters: taking it at the same time relative to meals each day generally provides steadier symptom control. ^{[5] [1]}

Bottom line

• There is no evidence that broccoli uniquely interferes with omeprazole, but taking omeprazole with food including broccoli can reduce or delay absorption compared with taking it fasting. Following label instructions to take it before eating is the simplest way to keep the medicine working well. ^{[5] [1] [3] [4]}