Betaine HCl food supplement, a natural gastric acidifier

Betaine HCl is a natural stomach acidifier made from betaine, an alkaloid found in foods such as beetroot. It is designed to compensate for the decline in gastric acidity typically seen after the age of 50, thus providing benefits for improving digestion, nutrient absorption and the prevention of gastrointestinal infections. The supplement is enzymatically stabilised (by the presence of proteases) to ensure it remains effective over time.

What does hydrochloric acid do in the stomach?

After food moves down the oesophagus, it enters the stomach, the lining of which immediately secretes hydrochloric acid. This highly acidic fluid is produced (at a rate of around two litres a day) by parietal cells every time we eat. It is strong enough to destroy the vast majority of bacteria that enter the digestive tract along with food.

Its main role, however, is to promote protein digestion by activating pepsin. Secreted by other stomach cells, this digestive enzyme is only effective in highly acidic environments. How is the stomach able to withstand the corrosive effect of hydrochloric acid? Its inner walls are coated with a protective layer of mucus produced by certain stomach cells. When production of this mucus is inadequate, however, the gastric mucosa rapidly erodes, potentially resulting in ulcers or gastritis. If nothing is done to address it, the acid may even perforate the stomach wall, allowing its contents to pass into the abdominal cavity, and cause peritonitis.

What happens, on the other hand, if the stomach fails to produce enough hydrochloric acid?

Pepsin, the active dietary protein-digesting enzyme of the stomach, is no longer activated, marking the start of digestive problems. Hydrochloric acid has four fundamental roles:

• To break down proteins into essential amino acids and micronutrients through activation of pepsinogen.
• To stimulate the pancreas and small intestine in order to support the production of digestive enzymes and bile, both of which are essential for carbohydrate and fatty acid digestion.
• To promote absorption of iron, zinc, magnesium, folic acid and vitamins C and A (1-2).
• To prevent infections by killing pathogenic bacteria and yeasts present in ingested food (3). Scientists have thus shown that one of the deadliest forms of pathogenic bacteria, E. coli, is inactivated when the stomach is sufficiently acidic (4). Conversely, research has also demonstrated that inadequate levels of acidity are associated with rapid invasion of the colon by microorganisms, leading to a range of uncomfortable gastrointestinal problems (5).

What causes inadequate production of hydrochloric acid (hypochlorhydria)?

Hypochlorhydria, or a lack of hydrochloric acid, is much more widespread than you might think. Normal stomach acidity corresponds to a pH of 1-2 (6). As we age, however, the stomach’s parietal cells produce less hydrochloric acid (7), and our pH rises … In fact, 50% of those over 60 have an inadequate level of stomach acidity. By the age of 85, this proportion rises to almost 80%. What’s more, there are additional factors that can exacerbate the situation:

• Infection by Helicobacter pylori (8) (one in two of us may be affected, most of us without realising it).
• Repeated use of antacid medication to treat acid reflux (proton pump inhibitors).
• Immune system problems such as pernicious anaemia, a disease in which antibodies attack the parietal cells that produce acid.

What are the effects of low stomach acidity?

The effects of inadequate acidity spill over into many of the body’s functions.

• Inefficient digestion, leading to deficiencies and a general weakening of the body. The decline in acid production results in low levels of activated pepsin. This makes digesting proteins very difficult and causes deficiencies which are damaging to our general health. In addition, undigested proteins acidify the blood, causing alkaline minerals to leach from all over the body, including the bones, a process that plays a key role in the development of osteoporosis.
• The proliferation of bacteria in the gut. Low gastric acid levels lead to bacterial proliferation in the small intestine, causing numerous digestive problems (9), not least Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO. Sufferers of SIBO complain of bloating, flatulence, belching and abdominal pain. Undigested proteins are also a source of toxins in the gut and may contribute to the onset of other chronic intestinal problems.
• Problems with absorbing medication. Stomach acidity is a key factor in the dissolution and solubility of a number of drugs.

In addition, a number of health issues are linked to problems with gastric acid production, particularly allergies, asthma and gallstones.