can betaine hcl be harmful

Precautions

“The most effective adult dose of Betaine HCl is 5 to 7 of the 650 milligram capsules per meal, with pepsin.” This is important for two reasons: 1) This is an average, so many people need to take more Betaine HCl and many people need to take less. You have to figure the custom dosage that works for you ( more instructions on that here ).

How much betaine HCl should I take?

Wright reports that the common Betaine HCL dosage range in his clinical practice is 3,250-4,550mg per meal. That means there are also plenty of people who need above 5,000mg for an effective dosage. Remember, a normal functioning stomach is capable of producing and handling extreme acid ranges.

How much is too much betaine HCl?

What Is Betaine: 11 Amazing Health Benefits of Betaine HCl

1. Relieves Hypochlorhydria. The low production of stomach acid or less secretion of hydrochloric acid is called as hypochlorhydria.
2. Maldigestion. If the food in the digestive system is not properly digested, then it affects the absorption of the nutrients and also causes hormonal disruption.
3. Helps with Ulcers. ...
4. Heart Disease. ...
5. Improves Muscle Mass. ...
6. Fat Loss. ...

More items...

What does betaine HCl do for the body?

This will lead to an increased production of stomach acid and encourage your sphincter muscle to close properly after you eat, stopping acid reflux from occurring in the first place. There is a lot of research that shows that Betaine HCL significantly adjusts the stomach acid content to an appropriate level for optimal digestion.

Does betaine HCl help acid reflux?

When should you not take betaine HCl?

People should not take more than 10 grains (650 mg) of betaine HCl without the recommendation of a physician. All people with a history of peptic ulcers, gastritis, or gastrointestinal symptoms—particularly heartburn—should see a doctor before taking betaine HCl.

What are the side effects of betaine?

Most side effects from betaine are mild and include diarrhea, stomach upset, and nausea. Betaine can raise total cholesterol levels. People who are overweight, have heart disease, or are at risk for heart disease, should not take betaine without talking to their provider.

Can you have too much betaine?

Betaine anhydrous can cause some minor side effects. These include nausea, stomach upset, and diarrhea, as well as body odor. Cholesterol levels sometimes go up.

Is betaine HCl good for acid reflux?

A variety of natural remedies may help treat acid reflux, including many vitamins and supplements. In particular, supplements like betaine HCl with pepsin, B vitamins, melatonin, Iberogast, probiotics, and ginger have been shown to help relieve symptoms of acid reflux.

Is betaine good for the liver?

In humans, dietary betaine was found to improve liver function in fatty liver disease, including steatohepatitis [43,48,58,59]. In animals and cultured cells, betaine had protective effects against liver injury, but the mechanism has not been determined [45,60].

What does betaine HCl do for the body?

Summary. Betaine hydrochloride is a lab-made supplement used to increase stomach acid. Some health experts have suggested that it can treat conditions like hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) and other unrelated medical conditions.

What are the symptoms of too much acid in your stomach?

Some signs that you may have high stomach acid include:abdominal discomfort, which may be worse on an empty stomach.nausea or vomiting.bloating.heartburn.diarrhea.decreased appetite.unexplained weight loss.

Can you take probiotics with betaine HCL?

Therefore, you can automatically consider that some supplements like Glucosamine Hydrochloride and Betaine Hydrochloride would not do well when combining with probiotics – when the hydrochloride is released in the gut, it will counter probiotics.

When is the best time to take betaine HCL?

Always take the betaine HCL either half-way through the meal or right at the end of the meal. Taking it before a meal may create a false experience of heartburn and can turn off stomach acid production for this meal. Caution: Do not take HCL if you are taking any NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, Tylenol, or aspirin.

How long should I take betaine HCl?

A trial period of 1 to 2 weeks will help you to determine if betaine HCl is helpful for you. Take 1 to 3 capsules with each meal. If you feel burning or have any other side effects, stop taking the supplement. If you notice any improvements in your symptoms, continue to take betaine HCl.

What is the best supplement for low stomach acid?

An HCl supplement (betaine hydrochloride), often taken in conjunction with an enzyme called pepsin, may help increase the acidity of the stomach.

Do I need HCl or digestive enzymes?

For good digestion, you need sufficient hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzyme activity in the gut. These both serve the important function of breaking down food proteins, which prevents the immune system from targeting them and causing symptoms.

Does betaine increase blood pressure?

Betaine serves as a methyl donor in a reaction converting homocysteine to methaionine. Previous studies showed, equivocally, that betaine could reduce blood pressure (bp) and blood homocysteine level.

How much betaine should I take?

Adults, teenagers, and children 3 years of age and older—The starting dose is usually 3 grams taken two times a day with meals. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children younger than 3 years of age—The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. Betaine should be taken with meals.

What are the side effects of digestive enzymes?

Side effects of digestive enzymes include:nausea.diarrhea.abdominal cramping.headache.neck pain.nasal congestion.swelling of the legs and feet.rash.More items...

Is betaine a stimulant?

Betaine and its benefits for health If you have only thought about it as part of a pre-workout stimulant, you will surely be surprised by its positive effect on heart or liver health.

Why was betaine banned from OTC?

However, in the late 1980s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned betaine hydrochloride from use in OTC products because there was not sufficient evidence for it to be considered “generally recognized as safe and effective.”.

How long does it take for betaine to affect stomach acid?

Betaine HCL can rapidly affect stomach acid levels, with a measurable albeit short-term impact within three to six minutes, per a 2013 study published in Molecular Pharmaceutics. Other purported effects of betaine HCL have not been adequately studied. 3 .

Can you take betaine while pregnant?

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid taking betaine HCL since there’s no information on how it may affect you or your baby. Because betaine HCL can boost the amount of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, it may irritate stomach ulcers or prevent them from getting better.

Does betaine help with yeast infection?

Fight yeast infections. Improve digestion of fats, especially in those post-cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal surgery) While betaine HCL does deliver hydrochloric acid , research has only revealed a short-term effect on stomach acid content. This may help counteract the effect of certain drugs and in turn aid in the absorption of other drugs, ...

Is betaine a supplement?

Betaine hydrochloride is commonly marketed as a supplement that can be taken for a slew of conditions, but little research exists on its purported health benefits. Some doctors may recommend betaine HCL as a source of hydrochloric acid for people who do not produce enough of it due to a health condition called hypochlorhydria .

Is betaine hydrochloride safe?

Unfortunately, not enough research has been done on betaine hydrochloride in order to know if it’s safe to use. According to a 2016 report published in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, one potential side effect is heartburn. 2 

Does betaine increase stomach acid?

It is believed to increase stomach acid. In the past, betaine hydrochloride could be found in over-the-counter (OTC) digestive aids as a source of hydrochloric acid, a key component of stomach juices that some people are low on.

Is betaine anhydrous or hydrochloride?

Don’t confuse betaine hydrochloride with betaine anhydrous. Use only the FDA-approved betaine anhydrous product for the treatment of high levels of homocysteine in the urine ( homocystinuria ). This is a symptom of some rare genetic diseases.

Is betaine a chemical?

Betaine hydrochloride is a chemical substance made in a laboratory. It is used as medicine. Betaine hydrochloride has an interesting history. Betaine hydrochloride used to be included in over-the-counter (OTC) products as a “ stomach acidifier and digestive aid.”. But a federal law that went into effect in 1993 banned betaine hydrochloride ...

Is betaine hydrochloride safe for breast feeding?

There isn't enough information to know if betaine hydrochloride is safe. It might cause heartburn. Pregnancy and breast -feeding: Not enough is known about the use of betaine hydrochloride during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Does betaine hydrochloride help with stomach acid?

Even if it were true, betaine hydrochloride wouldn’t help. It only delivers hydrochloric acid but does not itself alter stomach acidity.

Can medicine cause side effects?

Side Effects. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.

Does betaine cause body odor?

Less common. Diarrhea. nausea. stomach upset. Betaine may cause a body odor. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Precautions. Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2021.

What is betaine HCl?

Betaine HCl is an acidic version of betaine that works in the same way as hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your stomach. As a dietary supplement, betaine HCl is sometime combined with digestive enzymes such as pepsin or protease to help with protein digestion.

How long should I take betaine HCl?

Take 1 to 3 capsules before each meal. If you feel burning or have any other side effects, stop taking the supplement. If you notice any improvements in your symptoms, continue to take Betaine HCl. If there is no improvement in your symptoms after two weeks, stop taking the supplement.

Does betaine HCl increase stomach acid?

Using Betaine Hydrochloride. While there hasn’t been a lot of research into the use of betaine HCl, two studies show that this supplement is effective for increasing stomach acid, acts quickly, and has a short-term effect of just over an hour [ 30. Trusted Source PubMed Go to source. , 31.

Can betaine cause SIBO?

Don’t Make This Common Mistake When Taking Betaine HCl. New research suggests that low stomach acid may play a role in the development of SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Low stomach acid can also lead to nutritional deficiencies and may put you at greater risk for food poisoning and other gut infections.

Can you take betaine HCl with digestive acids?

Never Do This With Betaine HCl. There’s a common recommendation for establishing the dosage of digestive acids that I do not recommend. This misguided approach suggests that you increase your dose until you feel a burning sensation and then decrease your dose slightly.

Can betaine HCl be used for low stomach acid?

Hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid, is often found in those who are older, have autoimmune disease, or take proton pump inhibitor medication. The good news is that it’s easy to correct your stomach acidity with betaine HCl, an over-the-counter digestive support.

Can you take gastrin if you are not taking PPI?

A serum gastrin test can be used if you’re not taking PPI medication. According to some practitioners, a test result higher than 75 pg/mL could indicate that you would benefit from supplementing with betaine HCl. However, one study found no correlation between serum gastrin levels and gastric pH [ 29 ].

To Start With, What is Betaine Hydrochloride?

Betaine hydrochloride is a nutritional amino acid extracted from food sources like grains, beets, spinach, beef, shrimp, and whole wheat foods.

How do you take Betaine Hydrochloride?

People often ask me, well I don’t feel any discomfort with HCl so how do I know if I’m taking the right dose? Well, I’ll walk you through the eight steps, using a guide published in the National Institutes of Health which sheds some light on what you can additionally be looking for.

What was your experience with HCl?

For me, the effects of the dietary changes and three supplements that I took, including the HCl, were immediate and profound.

HCl is part of a comprehensive plan

When I first started TheAcidRefluxGuy.com, I wrote articles sharing my experiences with the dietary changes and supplements that I had found.

Wrap Up

As always, links to all the materials I referenced are available in the show notes or by going to theacidrefluxguy.com/005.

Connect With Me

Follow me on Instagram for daily tips and subscribe to The Reflux Cycle podcast on YouTube or your favorite podcasting app .

Where can I find betaine hydrochloride?

Betaine hydrochloride, despite its chemical-sounding name, i s actually an organic compound found naturally in foods like sugar beets, grains and spinach. Medical doctors and naturopaths alike have been recommending it for years.

What is betaine used for?

Uses for Betaine HCL Supplements. 1. Digestion. As we age, the amount of stomach acid we produce declines. This can lead to conditions such as GERD (acid reflux and indigestion). Stomach acid also plays a key role in killing much of the harmful bacteria that threaten your intestines.

Can you take Betaine HCL with Aspirin?

Dr. Jonathan Wright says betaine HCL can interact with certain pharmaceuticals, including: Aspirin. Indocin . Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc) As with any supplement, it’s a good idea to discuss betaine HCL with your doctor before taking it – particularly if your intention is to use it to treat a health condition.

Why don't you need betaine HCl?

That said, if you eat a meal lacking protein, you probably don’t need Betaine HCl because even a healthy stomach wouldn’t have naturally secreted much gastric acid anyway. For example, if you eat a salad for lunch without any protein… taking Betaine HCl could prove painful and unnecessary.

What happens if you take betaine HCl with the wrong food?

While all foods trigger the release of gastric acid via the brain and expanding the stomach, proteins will stimulate stomach acid production more than any other food.

Can you take betaine HCl with protein?

Take my word for it and avoid the stomach ache of death if you can. Solution: Don’t take Betaine HCl unless you eat at least 15g of protein with your meal.

Is betaine HCl good for you?

Find out if these common Betaine HCl mistakes are making you sicker. This might seem crazy, but stomach acid really is good for you. Without it, your health suffers. In fact, taking Betaine HCl to improve my stomach acid saved my digestion. And if you’re unknowingly suffering from Low Stomach Acid like I was, it could help you too.

Can you take betaine without pepsin?

So, if you’ re taking Betaine HCl without pepsin, you may be wasting a lot of money and not seeing the full benefit you could experience from using one that does contain pepsin. Solution: Stick with Betaine HCl brands that contain pepsin, like the one we custom formulated after years of testing, called “ HCL Guard+. “.

Can betaine HCl be taken with low stomach acid?

If you’re someone with low stomach acid and you take Betaine HCl properly, it can be a “magic pill” for you. It can be the one supplement that dramatically improves your digestive symptoms.

What Is Betaine Hydrochloride Used for?

Possible Side Effects

Dosage and Preparation

What to Look For

Summary