Hydrochloric acid (HCL), produced and secreted by the stomach, is extremely important to the digestive process. It is also one of the main mechanisms that prevents 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 four in 10 people over the age of 40 have some degree of acid deficiency. 1 In fact, insufficient secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is one of the most common causes of indigestion, bloating or burping after meals, and malabsorption of nutrients.
Supplementing betaine hydrochloride with meals can make up for insufficient gastric acid secretion and is of great help in optimizing indigestion.
What is betaine?
Betaine is an unofficial member of the B vitamin family. Strictly speaking, it is not a vitamin because the body makes betaine. Nonetheless, it works closely with other B vitamins to play a role in various body functions, such as liver function, cell replication, and various biochemical processes. 2 Betaine supplements are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of inherited disorders of homocysteine metabolism.
One of the main benefits of betaine on the gastrointestinal tract is to optimize the health of the intestinal lining. 2 Specifically, betaine helps protect and support the barrier function of the cells lining your intestines, combating "leaky gut" symptoms. Betaine optimizes the intestinal barrier by increasing the production of some proteins. These proteins help maintain tight connections between cells.
Food sources of betaine
beet
broccoli
Shellfish
Spinach and other leafy green vegetables
whole grains
What is betaine hydrochloride?
Hydrochloric acid is extremely acidic. If you try to take pure, unbound hydrochloric acid, it will eat a hole in your mouth or throat. Betaine HCL is a safe supplement form of betaine and hydrochloric acid. Betaine HCl delivers hydrochloric acid directly into the stomach, where special cells and compounds in the stomach wall provide protection from any strong acid.
Importance of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
On an empty stomach, the stomach is extremely acidic. Its pH value is in the range of 1.5-2.5. When you eat, your stomach cells produce more hydrochloric acid, as well as a protein-digesting enzyme called pepsin. This combination is important for breaking down ingested protein and killing ingested microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and yeast. 3
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 special tests to measure the pH of your stomach, mild hypochlorhydria can be identified by common symptoms. People with insufficient gastric acid secretion usually feel discomfort when food enters the stomach or shortly after a meal. Indigestion often presents with a feeling of fullness, bloating, burping, nausea, or stomach cramps. Also, because hydrochloric acid is critical for protein digestion and mineral assimilation, low hydrochloric acid is often associated with brittle, flaky and broken nails.
How to Supplement Betaine HCL
In most cases, betaine hydrochloride products contain pepsin (a protein-digesting enzyme or protease). Pepsin is either extracted from porcine gastric mucosa or is provided as a vegan protease with pepsin activity. The starting dose for these combination products or betaine HCl is to take one capsule providing 500 mg of betaine HCl with each meal.
Some doctors use a gradual approach to determine the appropriate dose for the individual. Simply put, take more capsules with each meal until you feel warm or uncomfortable in your stomach. Once this occurs, return to the previously used dose. This becomes the meal-related maintenance dose. For more substantial meals, one additional capsule may be needed. If the meal is smaller, reduce the amount taken.
If meals are of smaller portions, reduce the number of capsules taken.
If you are taking several capsules, it is best to take them in stages during meals.
As your stomach begins to repair itself and produces the hydrochloric acid needed to properly digest food, you will regain the feeling of warmth in your stomach. Dosage levels should be reduced at this time.
Safety and side effects
Precautions: Do not take HCL on an empty stomach. If you have gastrointestinal ulcers, are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your healthcare practitioner before use. Keep out of reach of children.
SIDE EFFECTS: May cause minor gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and stomach upset.