Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency
  HCL Deficiency
 Signs and symptoms
 Conditions that suggest it
 Contributing risk factors
 What else it can lead to
 Treatment
 



Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency: Overview
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) insufficiency can be complete (achlorhydria) or partial (hypochlorhydria) and intermittent. HCl plays an important part in the first digestive step, which if not completed properly can result in digestive problems all the way through the digestive tract. HCl does not digest food on its own, but creates an environment in which digestion begins. HCl is responsible for converting pepsinogen to pepsin, which begins breaking down proteins in the stomach. With limited HCl, pepsinogen is not converted to pepsin and protein digestion fails. A second action of HCl is to prevent infections, since most organisms that are ingested are destroyed by an adequately acid environment.


Signs, symptoms & indicators of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency:
Symptoms - Bowel MovementsOffensive-smelling stool is often a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Offensive-smelling stool

Symptoms - Gas-Int - General
Meal-related burping is often a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Meal-related burping
Possible delayed gastric emptying is often a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  (Confirmed/possible) delayed gastric emptying
Meal-related bloating is often a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Meal-related bloating
General flatulence is often a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  General flatulence

Symptoms - Nails
White spots on fingernails may be a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  White spots on fingernails

Symptoms - Skin - Conditions
History of adult acne may be a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  History of adult acne
History of eczema may be a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  History of eczema

Symptoms - Sleep
Drowsiness after meals is often a sign or symptom of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Drowsiness after meals

Conditions that suggest Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency:
DigestionHeartburn / GERD / Acid Reflux often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Heartburn / GERD / Acid Reflux
Based on the clinical experience of doctors such as Dr. Jonathon Wright, MD, supplementing with hydrochloric acid sometimes relieves the symptoms of heartburn and improves digestion in individuals who have hypochlorhydria. Unexplained bloating, belching and heartburn are frequently diagnosed as symptoms of hyperacidity and sometimes wrongly treated with antacids, when in fact the underlying problem is insufficient acid production.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

Infections
Bacterial Dysbiosis often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Bacterial Dysbiosis
Yeast / Candida Infection often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Yeast / Candida Infection

Musculo-Skeletal
Rheumatoid Arthritis often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lack of stomach acid occurs frequently in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This is associated with changes in gastric microbial patterns.

Nutrients
Vitamin B12 Requirement often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Vitamin B12 Requirement
Achlorhydria leads to improper absorption of nutrients such as B12.

Skin-Hair-Nails
Adult Acne often suggests Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Adult Acne
Eczema may suggest Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Eczema

Risk factors for Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency:
NutrientsVitamin B6 Requirement often increases risk of Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Vitamin B6 Requirement
Vitamin B6 is necessary for the production of hydrochloric acid.

Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency can lead to:
Environment / ToxicityHydrochloric Acid Deficiency often leads to General Detoxification Requirement  General Detoxification Requirement

Recommendations and treatments for Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency:
BotanicalCayenne Pepper often helps with Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Cayenne Pepper
Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne, is believed to assist digestion by stimulating the flow of both salvia and stomach secretions. One or two capsules of cayenne pepper taken before meals stimulates hunger also.

Diet
Vinegar may help with Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice taken with meals mildly stimulates hydrochloric acid production.

Digestion
Hydrochloric Acid (Trial) is highly recommended for Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Hydrochloric Acid (Trial)
Some people with low stomach acid have no symptoms that are obviously related, and are led to believe they are digesting properly, when they are not. An HCl trial is a safe, worthwhile, and relatively accurate way to discover if an insufficiency exists. Since the long-term administration of supplemental HCl may result in reduced stomach output of acid, administration is advised for diagnostic purposes and short-term use only. Short-term use may result in a return of normal acid production.

Digestive Enzyme (Trial) is highly recommended for Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Digestive Enzyme (Trial)
A trial using plant-based enzymes to enhance digestion demonstrated their additional benefit of improving hydrochloric acid production in those individuals who were hypochlorhydric.

Vitamins
Folic Acid may help with Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Folic Acid
In cases of low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) or no stomach acid (achlorhydria), supplemental use of hydrochloric acid normalizes folate absorption.

Vitamin B-Complex may help with Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Vitamin B-Complex
Several B-vitamins are needed to support hydrochloric acid production.

Inositol Hexaniacinate may help with Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency  Inositol Hexaniacinate
Inositol hexaniacinate might play a role in both the reduction of achlorhydria-related symptoms and in augmenting gastric acid secretion. It may enhance the production of hydrochloric acid in a manner that cannot be explained by it simply being an acid. Its benefits may be due, in part, to its stress-moderating properties upon the central nervous system.


KEY
Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may suggestWeak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may suggest
Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of; often leads toStrong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of; often leads to
May be useful: may help withMay be useful: may help with
Moderately useful: often helps withModerately useful: often helps with
Very useful: is highly recommended forVery useful: is highly recommended for




Last updated: Mar 04, 2012