By Dr. Michael Murray (Naturopathic)
HCL is produced and secreted by the stomach, which is extremely important for the digestive process. It is also one of the main mechanisms to prevent harmful bacteria, viruses, yeast, and other organisms from entering the body.
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, a person may not be able to produce enough hydrochloric acid. For example, aging is an important factor, as nearly 4 in 10 people over the age of 40 have some degree of gastric acid inadequacy. 1 In fact, insufficient gastric hydrochloric acid secretion is one of the most common causes of indigestion, bloating or belching after meals, and malabsorption of nutrients.
Supplementing with betaine hydrochloride during meals can make up for the lack of gastric acid secretion and is of great help in optimizing indigestion.
What is betaine?
Betaine is an informal B vitamin member, strictly speaking, it is not a vitamin because the body can make betaine. Nonetheless, it works closely with other B vitamins to play a role in various bodily functions, such as liver function, cell replication, and several biochemical processes. Betaine supplements are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of genetic disorders of homocysteine metabolism.
One of the main benefits of betaine for the gastrointestinal tract is to improve the health of the gut lining. Specifically, betaine helps protect and support the barrier function of the cells lining the intestine and combat “leaky gut” symptoms. Betaine improves the gut barrier by increasing the production of some protein. These proteins help maintain tight connections between cells.
Food sources of betaine
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Shellfish and seafood
- Spinach and other leafy greens
- Whole grains
What is betaine hydrochloride?
Hydrochloric acid is extremely acidic. If you try to take unbound pure hydrochloric acid, you will eat a hole in your mouth or throat. Betaine hydrochloride is a safe supplemental form of betaine and hydrochloric acid. Betaine hydrochloride delivers hydrochloric acid directly into the stomach, and special cells and compounds in the stomach lining can provide protection from any strong acids.
The importance of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
On an empty stomach, the stomach is extremely acidic. Its pH is in the range of 1.5-2.5. When eating, stomach cells produce more hydrochloric acid , as well as a protein-digesting enzyme called pepsin. This combination is important for breaking down ingested proteins and killing ingested microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and yeast.
The stomach needs to secrete enough hydrochloric acid to properly absorb vitamin B12, folate, vitamin C, iron, and some forms of calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
How do you know if your stomach is producing enough hydrochloric acid?
Although there are specialized tests to measure the pH of the stomach, it is also possible to conclude a mild stomach acid deficiency by common symptoms. People with insufficient stomach acid secretion usually feel unwell when food enters the stomach or shortly after a meal. Indigestion often manifests as satiety, bloating, belching, nausea, or stomach cramps. At the same time, because hydrochloric acid is essential for protein digestion and mineral assimilation, too low hydrochloric acid is often associated with brittleness, peeling, and nail breakage.
How to supplement with betaine hydrochloride
In most cases, betaine hydrochloride products contain pepsin, a protein-digesting enzyme or protease. Pepsin is either extracted from the porcine gastric mucosa or is available in the form of a vegan protease with pepsin activity. The starting dose of these combination products or betaine hydrochloride is one capsule that provides 500 mg of betaine hydrochloride per meal.
Some doctors use a gradual approach to determine the appropriate dosage for the individual. Simply put, increase the number of capsules at each meal until your stomach feels warm or uncomfortable. Once this happens, return to the previously used dose. This becomes the maintenance dose of the meal. For richer meals, you may need to take an extra capsule. If the meal size is small, reduce the number of meals.
- If the portion size is small, reduce the number of capsules.
- If you are taking several capsules, it is best to take them in stages during meals.
- As your stomach begins to repair and produce the hydrochloric acid needed to properly digest food, you will regain the feeling of warmth in your stomach. The dose level should be reduced at this time.
Safety and side effects
Precautions: Do not take HCL on an empty stomach. If suffering from gastrointestinal ulcers, pregnant or nursing, consult a health practitioner before use. Keep out of reach of children.
Side effects: May cause mild gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and stomach upset.
References:
- Howden CW, Hunt RH. Spontaneous hypochlorhydria in man: possible causes and consequences. Digestive Diseases 1986; 4(1):26–32.
- Arumugam MK, Paal MC, Donohue TM Jr, et al. Beneficial Effects of Betaine: A Comprehensive Review. Biology (Basel). 2021 May 22; 10(6):456.
- Schubert ML. Functional anatomy and physiology of gastric secretion. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2015 Nov; 31(6):479-85.