Does coconut oil interact with omeprazole or alter its absorption and effectiveness?

Short answer

There is no evidence that coconut oil directly interacts with omeprazole or blocks its effectiveness. However, taking omeprazole with a high‑fat meal can significantly reduce how much of the drug is absorbed, so if you consume coconut oil as part of a high‑fat meal close to your dose, omeprazole’s absorption may be lowered. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

---

What we know about omeprazole and food

• Food effect: Omeprazole is designed to be absorbed in the small intestine after passing through the stomach’s acid, and food especially high‑fat, high‑calorie meals can slow and reduce its absorption. In controlled studies of products that include omeprazole, high‑fat meals cut omeprazole exposure (AUC) by about two‑thirds and peak levels (Cmax) by more than four‑fifths compared with fasting. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

• Timing matters: Giving omeprazole 60 minutes before a high‑fat, high‑calorie meal still reduced exposure compared with fasting, though the impact may be less than taking it with the meal. This supports standard advice to take omeprazole on an empty stomach 30–60 minutes before food. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

• General food impact: Earlier pharmacokinetic work with enteric‑coated omeprazole found that food can delay absorption and may lower bioavailability versus fasting conditions, reinforcing the importance of dosing away from meals. ^{[7] [8]}

---

Does coconut oil itself interact?

• No specific coconut oil interaction: Omeprazole’s known interactions involve changes in stomach acidity affecting drugs with pH‑dependent absorption, and inhibition of a liver enzyme (CYP2C19) that can raise levels of certain medicines. Coconut oil does not belong to those categories and is not listed among known interacting substances. ^{[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}

• High‑fat context: Coconut oil is a fat. If it is part of a high‑fat meal near the time you take omeprazole, the meal’s fat content not coconut oil specifically can reduce omeprazole absorption. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

---

Practical guidance for taking omeprazole

• When to take: Take omeprazole on an empty stomach, ideally 30–60 minutes before breakfast, to support optimal absorption. ^{[7] [1]}

• Separate from high‑fat foods: Try to avoid high‑fat meals within about an hour after taking omeprazole; this includes foods rich in oils (like coconut oil), butter, cream, and fried dishes. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

• Consistency helps: Take it at the same time each day under similar conditions (fasting before a meal) to keep blood levels steady. ^[8]

---

Omeprazole’s other interactions (for completeness)

• Gastric pH effects: Omeprazole raises stomach pH, which can decrease absorption of certain drugs (e.g., ketoconazole, iron salts) and increase absorption of others (e.g., digoxin). This is unrelated to coconut oil but important to know if you take these medications. ^{[10] [11]}

• CYP2C19 inhibition: Omeprazole is a time‑dependent inhibitor of CYP2C19, which can increase levels of drugs that rely on this enzyme (e.g., some antiretrovirals, diazepam, phenytoin). Coconut oil does not alter CYP2C19 in a clinically meaningful way. ^{[15] [16] [13] [14]}

---

Bottom line

• Coconut oil itself is not known to interact with omeprazole. ^{[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}
• High‑fat meals reduce omeprazole absorption, so if coconut oil is part of a high‑fat meal around dosing time, it can indirectly lower the drug’s exposure. Taking omeprazole 30–60 minutes before food on an empty stomach remains best practice. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}