Based on NIH | Does eating broccoli pose any interaction or safety concerns with Omeprazole?

Short answer

Eating broccoli does not have a known harmful interaction with omeprazole, and it is generally considered safe to consume while taking this medication. Official drug information for omeprazole lists interactions with certain prescription drugs and herbal products (e.g., clopidogrel, methotrexate, St. John’s wort, rifampin), but does not identify broccoli or cruciferous vegetables as a concern. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

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What omeprazole interacts with (and why broccoli isn’t on the list)

Omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI) reduces stomach acid and can affect how some medications are absorbed or metabolized. Clinically relevant interactions are mainly with specific medicines particularly those dependent on stomach acidity for absorption or those metabolized via CYP2C19 rather than with common foods like broccoli. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

• Absorption-related interactions: PPIs can lower the absorption of certain drugs that need an acidic environment (for example, ketoconazole or some antivirals), but this mechanism does not apply to broccoli. ^[5]
• Metabolism-related interactions: Omeprazole can inhibit CYP2C19 and modestly affect some drugs (e.g., diazepam, phenytoin) and is notable for its interaction with clopidogrel; broccoli is not known to alter these pathways in a way that changes omeprazole’s effect. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Standard consumer and professional guidance for omeprazole does not list broccoli, cruciferous vegetables, or vitamin K–rich foods as items to avoid. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]}

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Broccoli, vitamin K, and a different drug (warfarin)

Some confusion comes from the fact that broccoli is rich in vitamin K, which can interfere with warfarin (a blood thinner). This is a warfarin-specific issue, not an omeprazole issue. ^{[13] [14]}

• If you take warfarin, you should keep vitamin K intake consistent to avoid changes in your INR, but this does not apply to omeprazole. ^{[15] [16] [17]}

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Practical dietary tips with omeprazole

While broccoli itself is fine, people taking omeprazole for heartburn or reflux may find that certain foods trigger symptoms. General heartburn tips advise limiting rich, spicy, fatty, fried foods, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and some fruits/vegetables that are more acidic or irritating but broccoli is not typically among common triggers. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]}

Because PPIs raise stomach pH, there are a few broader safety notes unrelated to broccoli:

• Reduced stomach acidity can modestly increase the risk of certain gastrointestinal infections. ^{[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]}

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Bottom line and recommendations

• Broccoli is generally safe to eat with omeprazole, with no documented food–drug interaction or safety concern. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
• Continue a balanced diet, and tailor specific foods based on your personal reflux triggers rather than on omeprazole interaction concerns. ^{[8] [9]}
• If you take warfarin (not omeprazole), maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K–rich foods like broccoli. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16] [17]}

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Quick reference table

Topic	Key point	Relevance to broccoli
Omeprazole drug interactions	Interacts with certain medicines (e.g., clopidogrel, methotrexate, St. John’s wort, rifampin); not with common foods	No known interaction with broccoli [1] [2] [3] [4]
Acid-dependent absorption	PPIs can reduce absorption of some drugs requiring acidic pH	Does not apply to broccoli [5]
CYP2C19/CYP3A4 effects	Omeprazole can inhibit CYP2C19; drug-specific relevance	No evidence broccoli alters omeprazole efficacy [6] [7]
Heartburn dietary tips	Limit rich, spicy, fatty, fried foods; chocolate, caffeine, alcohol; some fruits/veg	Broccoli typically not a trigger [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Vitamin K considerations	Vitamin K affects warfarin dosing consistency	Relevant only if on warfarin, not omeprazole [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

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If you notice personal reflux symptoms after eating broccoli, it could be an individual sensitivity rather than a drug interaction; adjusting portion size or preparation (e.g., steaming instead of raw) can help.