TREATMENT DATABASE

Betaine HCl is a synthesized chemical compound consisting of betaine, a methyl group donor, and hydrochloride, a salt. This vitamin-like substance was originally derived from beets. For many years Betaine HCl was added to over-the-counter digestive aids, until in 1993 the FDA determined that it has not been proven “generally safe and effective.” At that point Betaine HCl began to be sold as a separate supplement.

Betaine HCl is still marketed as a digestive aid, particularly for the treatment of hypochloridia, a condition in which the stomach does not produce enough acid. Hypochloridia can occur after taking stomach acid suppressors (antacids, proton pump inhibitors), through H. Pylori infections (which interfere with stomach acid production), as well as any disease process that causes inflammation in the stomach lining. Stomach acid is often low in the elderly.

Lack of stomach acid can lead to the phenomenon known as “dumping,” in which the stomach's contents (chyme) are released into the small intestines before having been adequately broken down. The ability of the small intestines to further break down the chyme can result in poor absorption of nutrients, leading to deficiency states, particularly of minerals, which require acid to be absorbed. One of the most common symptoms of hypochloridia is reflux, which is frequently misdiagnosed as excess acid.

The most reliable test to determine hypochloridia is the Heidelberg Capsule test. The capsule contains a high frequency transmitter attached to a string. When the capsule is swallowed and drawn back up the esophagus, it gives an instant pH reading.

USES IN ME/CFS: A number of clinicians have proposed that low levels of stomach acid are responsible for many of the GI symptoms found in CFS/ME patients.

Although Betaine HCl does not contain hydrochloric acid (the HCl, in this case, is a salt), some people report improved digestion. The supplement does have mild acidifying properties, which is perhaps why people report having to take so many capsules with their meals (up to seven). It is quite possible that many of its benefits may actually come from the fact that betaine acts as a liver support.

Treatment rating for Betaine HCl