Based on PubMed | Does eating broccoli in the morning interfere with omeprazole absorption or effectiveness, and should I separate their timing?

Eating broccoli does not meaningfully interfere with omeprazole’s absorption or overall effectiveness, so you generally do not need to avoid broccoli or separate it by hours. The more important factor is taking omeprazole before a meal, because food can delay and modestly lower its absorption if the dose is taken with food rather than on an empty stomach. ^{[1] [2]}

How omeprazole is best absorbed

• Omeprazole is designed as an enteric‑coated, delayed‑release formulation because it breaks down in acid; taken properly, it’s absorbed in the small intestine. When taken with a meal, absorption is delayed and may be slightly reduced compared with fasting conditions. ^[1] Consumer instructions recommend taking omeprazole before a meal (commonly before breakfast). ^[2]
• Older pharmacokinetic work also notes that meals tend to slow the rate of absorption, while the overall extent of absorption is less affected when the medication is taken as directed. Practically, taking it on an empty stomach helps ensure consistent acid suppression. ^[3]

Do cruciferous vegetables like broccoli affect omeprazole?

• There is no clinical evidence that broccoli (or typical dietary fiber in a normal breakfast) directly reduces omeprazole’s absorption or its ability to suppress stomach acid. Known interactions with omeprazole involve other medicines whose absorption depends on stomach acidity (for example, ketoconazole, some iron salts) or drugs affected by metabolism and transport, not vegetables. ^{[4] [5]}
• Experimental animal data suggest some broccoli compounds (such as indole‑3‑carbinol) have their own gastric protective effects, but this does not imply a harmful interaction with omeprazole in humans. In routine human use, broccoli is not listed as a food interaction of concern for omeprazole. ^{[6] [2]}

Practical timing tips

• For best results, take omeprazole before breakfast, ideally about 30 minutes before eating, so the drug is absorbed and active as the stomach’s acid pumps turn on with the meal. Labeling emphasizes taking the capsule before a meal, which aligns with its pharmacology. ^{[2] [1]}
• You can eat broccoli with that breakfast without special separation. The key is that the capsule goes in first, on an empty stomach; the breakfast (broccoli included) follows. ^{[1] [2]}
• If your schedule is irregular, taking omeprazole before your main meal of the day can also work, but morning dosing is customary and convenient. Consistency in timing tends to give the most stable symptom control. ^{[2] [3]}

When to consider separation

• If you are also taking medications known to be affected by stomach pH (for example, ketoconazole, certain iron supplements, or some antivirals), your prescriber may recommend specific spacing or alternatives. Omeprazole’s acid suppression can reduce the absorption of these drugs, while it may increase absorption of others like digoxin. ^[4]
• Liquid antacids can be used if needed; they do not meaningfully change omeprazole’s bioavailability when the PPI is taken correctly. ^[1]

Bottom line

• Broccoli does not have a clinically significant interaction with omeprazole. ^[5]
• Take omeprazole on an empty stomach before a meal (commonly breakfast); then eat your meal including broccoli without needing to separate it by hours. ^{[2] [1]}

If you are taking other medications or supplements that could interact with altered stomach acidity, your clinician or pharmacist can help tailor the timing.