Betaine Hydrochloride

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a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

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This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for	Amount	Why
Acne Rosacea	Refer to label instructions	Hydrochloric acid and vitamin B complex improved some cases of rosacea in people with low stomach acid. Take only under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.
Acne Rosacea Some people with rosacea have been reported to produce inadequate stomach acid.¹ In a preliminary trial, supplemental hydrochloric acid, along with vitamin B complex, improved some cases of rosacea in people with low stomach-acid production.² Similarly, improvement in rosacea has been reported anecdotally after supplementation with pancreatic digestive enzymes, and a controlled study found that rosacea patients produced less pancreatic lipase than healthy people.³ Controlled trials are needed to evaluate the effects of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzyme supplements in rosacea. Hydrochloric acid supplements should not be taken without the supervision of a healthcare practitioner. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Allergies and Sensitivities and Food Allergies	Refer to label instructions	Hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach helps to digest protein, and may theoretically help break down food allergens to smaller molecules that are not allergenic.
Allergies and Sensitivities and Food Allergies According to one theory, allergies are triggered by partially undigested protein. Proteolytic enzymes may reduce allergy symptoms by further breaking down undigested protein to sizes that are too small to cause allergic reactions.⁴ Preliminary human evidence supports this theory.⁵ Hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach also helps the digestion of protein, and preliminary research suggests that some people with allergies may not produce adequate amounts of stomach acid.⁶ ^{, 7} ^{, 8} However, no controlled trials have investigated the use of enzyme supplements to improve digestion as a treatment for food allergies.

Used for	Amount	Why
Asthma	Refer to label instructions	Used under medical supervision, betaine HCl may help restore stomach acid levels and improve asthma symptoms.
Asthma A study conducted many years ago showed that 80% of children with asthma had hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid). Supplementation with hydrochloric acid (HCl) in combination with avoidance of known food allergens led to clinical improvement in this preliminary trial.⁹ In more recent times, HCl has usually been supplemented in the form of betaine HCl. The amount needed depends on the severity of hypochlorhydria and on the size of a meal. Because it is a fairly strong acid, betaine HCl should be used only with medical supervision. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Chronic Candidiasis	Refer to label instructions	Betaine hydrochloride is a type of digestive enzyme that inhibits the overgrowth of candida and prevents it from becoming established in the small intestine.
Chronic Candidiasis It is unknown if taking pancreatic enzymes or betaine HCl (hydrochloric acid) tablets is beneficial for chronic candidiasis. Nonetheless, some doctors recommend improving digestive secretions with these agents. Hydrochloric-acid secretion from the stomach, pancreatic enzymes, and bile all inhibit the overgrowth of Candida and prevent its penetration into the absorptive surfaces of the small intestine.¹⁰ ^{, 11} ^{, 12} Decreased secretion of any of these important digestive components can lead to overgrowth of Candida in the gastrointestinal tract. Consult a physician for more information. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Dermatitis Herpetiformis	Refer to label instructions	To correct the low stomach acid that often occurs with DH, some doctors recommend betaine HCI, a source of hydrochloric acid.
Dermatitis Herpetiformis People with DH frequently have mild malabsorption (difficulty absorbing certain nutrients) associated with low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) and inflammation of the stomach lining (atrophic gastritis).¹³ Mild malabsorption may result in anemia¹⁴ and nutritional deficiencies of iron, folic acid,¹⁵ ^{, 16} vitamin B12,¹⁷ ^{, 18} and zinc.¹⁹ ^{, 20} ^{, 21} More severe malabsorption may result in loss of bone mass.²² Additional subtle deficiencies of vitamins and minerals are possible, but have not been investigated. Therefore, some doctors recommend people with DH have their nutritional status checked regularly with laboratory studies. These doctors may also recommend multivitamin-mineral supplements and, to correct the low stomach acid, supplemental betaine HCl (a source of hydrochloric acid). Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Gallstones	Refer to label instructions	People with gallstones may have insufficient stomach acid and may benefit from supplementing with betaine HCI.
Gallstones According to one older report, people with gallstones were likely to have insufficient stomach acid.²³ Some doctors assess adequacy of stomach acid in people with gallstones and, if appropriate, recommend supplementation with betaine HCl. Nonetheless, no research has yet explored whether such supplementation reduces symptoms of gallstones. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease	Refer to label instructions	Hydrochloric acid is sometimes recommended by practitioners of natural medicine in the hope that improved digestion will help prevent reflux.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes are sometimes recommended by practitioners of natural medicine in the hope improved digestion will help prevent reflux.²⁴ However, these therapies have not been researched for their effectiveness. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Hives	Refer to label instructions	Lack of hydrochloric acid (HCl) secretion by the stomach may contribute to chronic hives related to food allergies. Supplementing with betaine HCI, which contains hydrochloric acid, may help.
Hives According to preliminary studies from many years ago, lack of hydrochloric acid (HCl) secretion by the stomach was associated with chronic hives, presumably as a result of increasing the likelihood of developing food allergies. In one such study, 31% were diagnosed as having achlorhydria (no gastric acid output), and 53% were shown to be hypochlorhydric (having low gastric acid output).²⁵ In a related study, treatment with an HCl supplement and a vitamin B-complex supplement helped to treat people with hives.²⁶ Betaine HCl is the most common hydrochloric acid-containing supplement; it comes in tablets or capsules measured in grains or milligrams. One or more tablets or capsules, each containing 5–10 grains (325–650 mg) are typically taken with a meal that contains protein. Diagnosis of a deficiency of HCl and supplementation with HCl should be supervised by a doctor. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Indigestion, Heartburn, and Low Stomach Acidity	Consult your doctor	Supplementing betaine hydrochloride with meals may improve digestion in people who have been diagnosed with low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria).
Indigestion, Heartburn, and Low Stomach Acidity Consult your doctor According to Jonathan Wright, MD, another cause of heartburn can be too little stomach acid.²⁷ This may seem to be a paradox, but based on the clinical experience of a few doctors such as Dr. Wright, supplementing with betaine HCl (a compound that contains hydrochloric acid) often relieves the symptoms of heartburn and improves digestion, at least in people who have hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid). The amount of betaine HCl used varies with the size of the meal and with the amount of protein ingested. Typical amounts recommended by doctors range from 600 to 2,400 mg per meal. Use of betaine HCl should be monitored by a healthcare practitioner and should be considered only for indigestion sufferers who have been diagnosed with hypochlorhydria. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Rheumatoid Arthritis	Refer to label instructions	When stomach acid is low, supplementing with betaine HCl can reduce food-allergy reactions and help some people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Many years ago, two researchers reported that some individuals with RA had inadequate stomach acid.²⁸ Hydrochloric acid, called HCl by chemists, is known to help break down protein in the stomach before the protein can be absorbed in the intestines. Allergies generally occur when inadequately broken down protein is absorbed from the intestines. Therefore, some doctors believe that when stomach acid is low, supplementing with betaine HCl can reduce food-allergy reactions by helping to break down protein before it is absorbed. In theory such supplementation might help some people with RA, but no research has investigated whether betaine HCl actually reduces symptoms of RA. Supplementation with betaine HCl should be limited to people who have a proven deficit in stomach acid production. Of doctors who prescribe betaine HCl, the amount used varies with the size of the meal and with the amount of protein ingested. Although typical amounts recommended by doctors range from 600 to 2,400 mg of betaine HCl per meal, use of betaine HCl needs to be monitored by a healthcare practitioner and tailored to the needs of the individual. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Vitiligo	Refer to label instructions	Lack of stomach acid may play a role in vitiligo. Supplementing with betaine HCL may help repigment the skin.
Vitiligo In one early report, lack of stomach acid (achlorhydria) was associated with vitiligo. Supplementation with dilute hydrochloric acid after meals resulted in gradual repigmentation of the skin (after one year or more).²⁹ Hydrochloric acid, or its more modern counterpart betaine HCl, should be taken only under the supervision of a doctor. Learn More

Also indexed as:

abdominal disorder,
abdominal problems,
betaine HCl,
betaine hydrochloride,
digestion problems,
digestive problems,
gastrointestinal disorder,
gastrointestinal problems,
GI problems,
stomach problems

About this treatment

How to Use It

Betaine HCl is the most common hydrochloric acid-containing supplement. Normally it comes in tablets or capsules measured in grains or milligrams. Only people who have reduced levels of stomach acid (“hypochlorhydria”) should take betaine HCl; this condition can be diagnosed by a doctor. When appropriate, some doctors recommend taking one or more tablets or capsules, each 5–10 grains (325–650 mg), with a meal that contains protein. Occasionally, betaine (trimethylglycine) is recommended to reduce blood levels of a substance called homocysteine, which is associated with heart disease. This form of betaine is different from betaine HCl.

Where to Find It

Gastric acid is produced by the parietal cells of the stomach. The acidity is quite strong in a normal stomach. In fact, the stomach can be between 100,000 and almost 1,000,000 times more acidic than water.

Possible Deficiencies

Some research suggests that people with a wide variety of chronic disorders, such as allergies,asthma, and gallstones, do not produce adequate amounts of stomach acid.

Interactions

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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