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Betaine hydrochloride ( HCI )
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The process of human digestion occurs along the entire alimentary canal, it can be said to have begun as soon as the food passes through the mouth, continuing along the alimentary canal and into the stomach, the small intestine, and lastly the large intestine with the resultant expulsion of the feces. The most vital organ for the process of human digestion is the stomach and the most important phase of digestion takes place in the stomach, in the stomach, the gastric acids helps the body break down proteins into smaller sub-units which are routed and passed along for further digestion in the small intestine -where they are also absorbed.
The amount of gastric acids and juices secreted in the stomach has a great bearing on the risks and severity of certain bacterial and parasitic intestinal infections of the gastric tract, low levels of gastric secretion inevitably translates into a greater danger and incidence of illness or disorders caused by pathogenic or parasitic organisms. The gastric acid secreted by a normal stomach is quite sufficient to destroy bacteria in the stomach and the intestines. This was proved during one study, which measured the normal gastric acid secretion in the stomach of fasting test subjects, all of them had virtually no bacteria in the small intestines due to the elimination of bacteria by the acid. In those individuals who had a low secretion of the hydrochloric acid, there was some bacterial colonization of the stomach as the amount of gastric acid was insufficient to kill all the bacteria.
The parietal cells in the stomach secrete gastric acid, which is essentially hydrochloric acid - HCI. In normal stomachs, the acidity of the gastric juice is very strong with a very low acidic pH. As a mater of fact, the gastric juices secreted in the stomach of a normal person can be between 100,000 and almost 1,000,000 times more acidic than normal water when measured on a pH scale.
There is some evidence form clinical research that some people, who suffer from varied type of chronic conditions, including common ailments such as different forms of allergies, chronic asthma, and gallstones, may not be secreting sufficient amounts of gastric acid in their stomachs.
The most common hydrochloric acid containing supplement in the human body is the substance known as betaine hydrochloride or HCI. When used in the form of supplements, this compound is usually sold in the form of tablets or capsules that can be measured in terms of grains or milligrams-mgs. Betaine HCI should only be used by individuals who are suffering from reduced levels of the gastric or stomach acids, in a condition known as "hypochlorhydria"- a type of disorder that can be easily diagnosed by a nutritionally oriented professional doctor or dietician. Most nutritionally oriented doctors, when correctly diagnosed, will usually recommend the patient use one or more tablets or capsules of the supplement, each one of which is about 5 - 10 grains - 325 mg - 650 mg, taken along with a protein rich meal on a regular basis. Supplements of the betaine may also occasionally be recommended to patient to help reduce the blood levels of a substance known as homocysteine, which is often connected to heart disease in humans. The chemical nature of this form of betaine is not similar to the betaine HCI supplement normally used in other cases.
The gastric lining of the stomach can be burned if the amount of betaine is greater than normal. The consumption of betaine HCI must be discontinued at once, if the burning sensation is experienced at any time during the supplemental process. Unless used under the recommendation and supervision of a nutritionally oriented physician, most people using the supplements must not take more than 10 grains or 650 mg equivalent of betaine HCI at any one time, as such amounts can be harmful to them. A nutritionally oriented doctor, must be consulted by all persons who have a history of ulcers, of chronic gastritis, or gastrointestinal symptoms - especially heartburn, before they begin any supplemental regimen using the betaine HCI. Betaine HCI supplements must also be avoided by all individuals who are already using any form of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications called NSAIDs, any cortisone like medications, or any type of medications likely to cause a peptic ulcer. The consumption of supplemental betaine HCI may actually help the absorption of some minerals and other nutrients in the stomach.
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