Low stomach acid is a simple yet harmful condition that can lead to several serious issues if not treated.

Low stomach acid

Low stomach acid can cause serious problems because the acid in the stomach (the hydrochloric acid) is essential for digestion (it helps in breaking down protein and absorbing nutrients) and immunity (it helps in controlling bacteria and viruses that could infect the stomach).

Causes and risk factors of low stomach acid

• Atrophic gastritis, which is the most common cause. It causes the cells that secrete stomach juices to stop working.
• H. pylori infection.
• Acid-reducing medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
• The risk of hypochlorhydria increases due to the following factors: advanced age, chronic stress, stomach surgery, and history of gastritis or stomach ulcers.

Symptoms of low stomach acid

• Immediate symptoms of low stomach acid are a result of indigestion, which causes bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, reflux, and undigested food in the stool.
• Having low stomach acid for a long period of time causes symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, such as hair loss, brittle fingernails, paleness, extreme tiredness, weakness, headache, memory loss, and numbness or tingling in hands and feet.
• Since the stomach acid is necessary for the digestion of protein and other nutrients (like vitamin B12 and other minerals), prolonged hypochlorhydria can lead to iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemia, in addition to calcium and magnesium deficiencies, which can cause osteoporosis.
• Stomach acid is essential for digesting protein into amino acids, which are necessary to produce neurotransmitters, like dopamine. Therefore, low stomach acid can lead to dopamine deficiency in the long term, and that causes a lot of psychological symptoms, such as lack of motivation, depression, sleeping problems, and others.

Diagnosis of low stomach acid

• Physical exam.
• PH test.
• Measuring the gastric acid levels.

Treatment of low stomach acid

• Managing the underlying cause.
• Hydrochloric acid (HCL) supplement (betaine hydrochloride). These supplements are often combined with the enzyme pepsin (a digestive enzyme).
• Managing the nutritional deficiencies.
• To help manage the condition, you have to eat protein first because it helps stimulate the acid production, eat probiotic foods (like yogurt), avoid overly fatty and processed foods, eat smaller meals and chew thoroughly, and eat the last meal 2-3 hours before bedtime.