Deficiency
An estimated 30% of Americans suffer from low levels of acidity, which can result in the incomplete digestion of foods and displacement of food from the stomach. Studies have shown that HCl production decreases with age. Since HCl and healthy digestive enzyme status is essential for access to nutrients from foods, depletion of enzymes and HCl can result in suboptimal nutritional status. Ongoing use of acid- reducing medications can also deplete stomach acid and lead to malabsorption of certain vitamins and minerals.
Betaine
Betaine (also known as trimethylglycine) is a natural substance found in foods such as beets and spinach. Research suggests that betaine supports cell health by acting as a methyl donor. This, in turn, supports healthy methionine, homocysteine and hepatic fat metabolism. Betaine also functions as an osmolyte, which supports the integrity of cells and proteins during fluctuations in hydration, salinity and temperature. Betaine HCl, the acidic form of betaine, has been used for years to support digestion and absorption due to its ability to lower gastric pH.
Pepsin
One of the first enzymes to initiate protein digestion, pepsin is synthesized in the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa and secreted as the inactive precursor, pepsinogen. HCl activates pepsinogen to convert it to pepsin once it is outside the cell. Pepsin is released by the chief cells and is responsible for breaking down proteins into peptides. This activation sets up a chain reaction that produces more pepsin, allowing for better protein digestion.
