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Gastric Acid Balance --
Heartburn
& Gastritis Not Always Caused by Too Much Acid
by Jim English
-- Reprinted by permission from Vitamin Research
The human requirement
for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients remains relatively constant
throughout adult life. Unfortunately our ability to properly digest food
and absorb vital nutrients declines with advancing age. Surprisingly,
one of the most common age-related causes of impaired digestive function is
the reduction of hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach. Hydrochloric
acid (HCL) is an important gastric secretion that enables the body to break
down proteins, activate important enzymes and hormones, and protect against
bacterial overgrowth in the gut. Achlorhydria (the complete absence of
stomach acid) and hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) are common digestive
problems. Symptoms of low stomach acid include
heartburn, indigestion
and bloating, among others. Additionally, a number of chronic health
conditions are correlated with impaired acid secretion, including allergies,
asthma and gallstones.
HCL and Digestion
Digestion is a complex body function that starts when food enters the mouth
and continues as material is processed and passed on to the stomach, small
intestine and large intestine. In the stomach, digestion begins with the
release of a number of gastric secretions, including HCL, pepsinogen and a
protective mucus coating. Secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsin is a
prerequisite for healthy digestion. Normally, the stomach contains enough
free hydrochloric acid (HCL) to maintain a constant stomach acidity of between
pH 1 and 2. The amount of HCL produced increases rapidly following the
ingestion of food.
HCL has an important role in the digestion and
absorption of a number of nutrients, including:
Protein -
HCL initiates the digestion of protein in the stomach by converting pepsinogen
into the proteolytic
enzyme, pepsin. Once formed, pepsin acts to break proteins into
smaller peptides that can be absorbed by the small intestine. Without
adequate gastric secretions, incompletely digested macromolecules can be
absorbed into the systemic circulation.
Carbohydrates and Fats - HCL supports the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins
A and E by stimulating the release of pancreatic enzymes and bile into the
small intestine.
Vitamins and Minerals - HCL also aids in the absorption and assimilation of vitamins and minerals such
as folic
acid, ascorbic
acid, beta-carotene
and iron, by increasing their bioavailability and
effecting their release from food. Jonathan Wright, MD, Medical Director
of the Tahoma Clinic, has observed that a number of minerals and
micro-trace elements are poorly absorbed in cases of insufficient stomach acid,
including calcium,
magnesium,
zinc,
copper, chromium,
selenium, manganese, vanadium,
molybdenum and cobalt.(1)
Protection from Pathogens - In addition to breaking down and absorbing vital nutrients, HCL also plays an
important role in maintaining a sterile environment in the stomach. HCL
does this by protecting against orally-ingested pathogens and acting as a
barrier to prevent bacterial or fungal overgrowth of the small
intestine. Researchers have shown that a common pathogen, E coli (Escherichia
coli) is inactivated when stomach acidity is high, with a pH ranging between
1.5 and 4.0.(2) Conversely, low stomach acidity is associated with the
rapid invasion of microorganisms from the colon, leading to gastric and
intestinal bacterial colonization and overgrowth.(3) And, in tests where
researchers induced a temporary state of low acid (pH greater than 4.0) all
subjects experienced bacterial overgrowth in the proximal small
intestine.(4) Conversely, E coli is not found in the gastric contents of
patients with achlorhydria (no acid) following treatment with HCL.(5)
An additional finding
from a Japanese team showed a strong correlation between low
stomach acidity and increased infection by
Helicobacter
pylori (H. pylori),(6) one of the most common chronic bacterial infections
of humans and recognized as a major cause of gastritis, gastric ulcer disease,
gastric carcinoma and B-cell gastric lymphoma.(7)
Low Stomach Acid and Age
Numerous studies have shown that hydrochloric acid secretion declines with
advancing age. In one study US researchers found that over 30 percent of
men and women over the age of 60 suffer from atrophic gastritis, a condition
marked by little or no acid secretion.(8) A second study found that up
to 40% of postmenopausal women have no basal gastric acid secretions.(9)
In a second study involving 3,484 subjects, researchers found that among both
males and females, 27% suffered from achlorhydria, with the greatest incidence
(39.8%) occurring in females aged 80 to 89 years.(10)
Researchers in Japan have also measured a similar age-related drop in gastric
acidity in elderly Japanese subjects. In 1984 researchers found that 60
percent of Japanese men and women over 50 years age suffered from achlorhydria.
New research based on data collected from 1989 to 1999 continued to
substantiate a substantial age-related decrease in stomach acid production,
though the total percentage of achlorhydric subjects dropped from 60 percent
to 40 percent.(7)
Conditions of Low Stomach Acid
Symptoms of low stomach acid frequently occur several hours after eating and
can include a desire to eat when not hungry, a sense of fullness after meals,
flatulence, constipation and diarrhea. Symptoms that may persist regardless of
eating food can include feeling soreness and burning of the mouth.(10)
Heartburn
Heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest caused by the regurgitation of
bile through the stomach into the lower esophagus, is a frequent symptom of
low gastric acid. In many cases, antacids or alkalizers are taken.
While this may provide temporary relief, there may be long term problems
leading to achlorhydria (no acid) which can be the result of abusing antacids or alkalizers. In this case, a person may want to
consider supplemental HCL as a possibility. Certainly it would be
preferable that our stomach production of hydrochloric acid and pepsin be
restored on its own, but a reliable way to do this has not been found.(11) Hydrochloric acid has been shown to support the conditions achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria.
Healthy
acid secretion and digestion include these substances:
Betaine Hydrochloride
Betaine hydrochloride (HCL) is a nutritional supplement that has been safely
used for over 100 years to support normal gastric acidity and healthy gut
function. Betaine HCL should not be confused with another popular
nutritional supplement, anhydrous Betaine, a methyl-donor nutrient.
Pepsin
Pepsin has a long history of use and is considered very safe when administered
to assist digestion, typically in conjunction with hydrochloric acid.
Gastritis
/ Heartburn - Conclusion / References
| Mastic Gum - Ulcer (H.Pylori)
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