Based on NIH | Does taking coconut oil on an empty stomach affect the absorption or effectiveness of omeprazole?

Taking coconut oil on an empty stomach is not known to directly reduce the absorption or effectiveness of omeprazole, and there is no documented interaction between coconut oil and omeprazole in official drug interaction listings. ^[1] However, omeprazole itself is best absorbed when taken before eating, and food in general can slow the rate and sometimes modestly lower the overall exposure to omeprazole, so separating your dose from any meal or calorie-containing intake including oils helps keep its effect consistent. ^{[2] [3]}

How omeprazole is absorbed

• Omeprazole delayed‑release capsules contain enteric‑coated granules that are designed to pass through the acidic stomach and dissolve in the small intestine; absorption begins after the granules leave the stomach. ^[4] Because this design protects the drug from stomach acid, timing relative to meals matters for how quickly and how much drug gets into your system. ^[4]
• Guidance for prescription omeprazole states it should be taken before eating (commonly 30–60 minutes before breakfast), which helps synchronize peak blood levels with active proton pumps in the stomach and improves acid suppression. ^{[2] [5]}

Effect of food and fats

• Across pharmacokinetic studies, the presence of food tends to delay absorption and can reduce peak levels (Cmax) and sometimes the total exposure (AUC) of omeprazole, although the degree can vary by formulation and person. ^{[3] [6]}
• These effects are described for meals in general; there is no specific evidence that dietary fat or coconut oil alone uniquely impairs omeprazole beyond the usual “with food” effect. ^{[3] [6]}

Coconut oil specifically

• Coconut oil is not listed as an interaction with omeprazole in official drug labeling or interaction sections, and no clinical studies document a specific effect of coconut oil on omeprazole absorption. ^[1]
• Therefore, coconut oil itself is unlikely to directly change omeprazole’s effectiveness through a unique mechanism; the more relevant factor is whether taking it constitutes “food” around the time of dosing, which can slow absorption. ^[3]

Practical timing advice

• To optimize consistency, take omeprazole on an empty stomach with water, ideally 30–60 minutes before breakfast. ^[2]
• If you regularly take coconut oil, consider taking it after your omeprazole dose and breakfast window once you’ve eaten so the capsule has already emptied from the stomach before any calories or fat are ingested. ^[3]
• If you need to take omeprazole later in the day, aim for a similar empty‑stomach window (for example, 2–3 hours after a meal and at least 30–60 minutes before the next meal) to minimize food effects. ^[3]

What omeprazole does interact with

• Omeprazole raises stomach pH, which can decrease or increase the absorption of other medications with pH‑dependent solubility (for example, it can decrease absorption of ketoconazole and iron salts, and increase exposure to digoxin). ^{[7] [8]}
• It also inhibits the liver enzyme CYP2C19, which can increase levels of some drugs metabolized by this pathway. ^[1] These are medication interactions, not food or oil interactions. ^[1]

Bottom line

• There is no evidence that coconut oil specifically interferes with omeprazole. ^[1]
• For best results, focus on timing: take omeprazole before eating and separate it from coconut oil or any caloric intake to avoid the general “with food” reduction in absorption rate and potential slight reduction in exposure. ^{[2] [3] [6]}