How Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency Affects Overall Health
“Most people with stomach issues do not have too much hydrochloric acid (HCL) but are actually deficient in HCL.”
I want to share a clinical pearl on digestion that I will never forget. It’s what makes me believe one of the most under-diagnosed contributors to chronic disease is hydrochloric acid deficiency.
I learned it over 40 years ago from my friend and colleague. On a college campus, baseline levels of HCL were taken from about a dozen “healthy” college students, but before the experimental part of the trial could begin, the flu broke out on campus.
This added a twist to any HCL experiment because sickness will diminish HCL production. In an effort to salvage their time and data, the researchers decided to see how long it would take for the subjects to return to their baseline levels of HCL after the flu abated.
Most returned to baseline in 2 months. However, 2 of the subjects took 2 years to return to baseline.
Why does it take so long?
Because it takes tremendous energy for the parietal cells in our stomach to concentrate hydrogen ions to make hydrochloric acid, HCL for short. Did you know the highest concentration of energy-producing cells in our body—called mitochondria—are located in the stomach?
If the flu can alter HCL production, imagine the impact on people with long-term chronic issues.
Why Healthy Stomach Acid Is Essential for Digestion
For decades, it has been shown that most people with stomach issues do not have too much hydrochloric acid (HCL), but are actually deficient in HCL.
Why is stomach acid good for you?
Because bacteria are destroyed by healthy HCL levels. Public health officials found that the people who did not get sick had healthy levels of HCL.
Let’s get a little technical for a minute:
- The pH of the stomach should be extremely acidic.
- The pH scale goes from 0–14. Water is neutral at 7.
- Stomach acid should be between 1.5–2.0 for optimal health.
Healthy stomach acid activates pepsin, a key enzyme for protein digestion.
It also activates secretin, which stimulates pancreatic enzymes, and cholecystokinin, which supports healthy fat digestion.
If the pH of the chyme (partially digested food) entering the small intestine is higher than 5, the buffering agents in the small intestine are not secreted. This failure allows bacteria and yeast from the large intestine to creep upward, leading to Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO).
Without strong hydrochloric acid, bacteria that naturally enter through the mouth and nose are not destroyed, setting the stage for broader digestive problems.
Conditions and Symptoms Linked to Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency
Here’s a partial list of conditions linked to hydrochloric acid deficiency:
- Adrenal exhaustion
- Asthma
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Eczema
- SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
- Graves’ disease, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism
- Autoimmune disorders like Lupus
- Rheumatoid Arthritis or Myasthenia Gravis
- Pernicious anemia or B12 deficiency
- Osteoporosis or Osteoarthritis
Other causes of low HCL include age, infections, high-carb meals, not chewing food properly, chronic stress (overstimulating the sympathetic nervous system), and deficiencies in vitamin B1 and zinc—both critical for HCL production.
Important Note:
If low HCL contributes to these conditions, chemically lowering stomach acid with acid blockers may worsen them over time.
How to Recognize and Address Hydrochloric Acid Deficiency
Even though lab tests are helpful, symptoms often tell the story first. Symptoms suggesting low hydrochloric acid include:
- Gas, burping, or bloating (especially 30 minutes after eating)
- Bad breath or body odor
- Asthma symptoms
- Food or environmental allergies
- Intestinal parasites
- Loss of the taste for meat
- Pancreatic or biliary dysfunction
Next Steps:
Your Wellness Clinician or Primary Doctor may recommend an HCL Correct Supplement to take with meals, mimicking the role of natural hydrochloric acid.
Additionally, they may advise trying an anti-inflammatory diet, cutting out refined carbs, and chewing food thoroughly to a liquid consistency.
These small steps—and other available wellness therapies—can help you rebuild digestive strength and protect your health.
Is your hydrochloric acid low? Maybe it’s time to find out.