Low stomach acid

Neal Winkler · 04-13-2008, 01:41 PM

I've had many of the sympoms of low stomach acid.

Bloating.

Gas.

Poorly digested food in stool.

Poor recovery capacity.

So, I seen Poliquin mention a HCl test where you take incrimentally bigger doses of HCl until you get a warm/burning sensation in your stomach or esophagus. Then you take one less next time and keep doing that until you get to the point where only one dose gives you the burning feeling. after that you're cured.

He recommends to take 250mg and increase each meal until you get the feeling.

I got a bottle and each pill is 600mg. I was going to cut in half but I forgot. I didn't get a feeling anyway. So, next time I said screw it and I took two whole ones. Then I said screw it again and next time I took 3. So, I'm up to 1800mg of HCl. Poliquin said if you get up to 7 250mg doses then you basically have no stomach acid. Well, that's 1750mg so I'm there.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I keep increasing my dose? My stomach has been feeling more "empty" since doing this.

Mike ODonnell · 04-13-2008, 05:30 PM

Take some AVC (in water) right before eating...see if that helps....many people with acid reflux (which is usually due to a lack not overproduction of stomach acids) find relief with it.

Might also be some food combining issues....is it more prevalent with just protein and veg or when you introduce more grains/carbs in the mix does it cause an issue?

Chris Forbis · 04-13-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Winkler

I've had many of the sympoms of low stomach acid.

Bloating.

Gas.

Poorly digested food in stool.

Poor recovery capacity.

So, I seen Poliquin mention a HCl test where you take incrimentally bigger doses of HCl until you get a warm/burning sensation in your stomach or esophagus. Then you take one less next time and keep doing that until you get to the point where only one dose gives you the burning feeling. after that you're cured.

He recommends to take 250mg and increase each meal until you get the feeling.

I got a bottle and each pill is 600mg. I was going to cut in half but I forgot. I didn't get a feeling anyway. So, next time I said screw it and I took two whole ones. Then I said screw it again and next time I took 3. So, I'm up to 1800mg of HCl. Poliquin said if you get up to 7 250mg doses then you basically have no stomach acid. Well, that's 1750mg so I'm there.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I keep increasing my dose? My stomach has been feeling more "empty" since doing this.

I've used HCl and digestive enzymes (Source Naturals brand) and noted little difference. One time I forgot to take the HCl at the beginning of a meal (lots of pizza) and so took it at the end. That was an awful idea. I got the burning feeling like crazy. Otherwise I've never noted the burning feeling, and I ended up at 3x650mg. I'd say stick with the single pill and see if the "empty" feeling persists.

Neal Winkler · 04-13-2008, 07:25 PM

Mike, I havn't experienced any acid reflux. What's AVC?

Chris, perhaps you needed more? I don't know!

Garrett Smith · 04-13-2008, 07:33 PM

Your stomach has been feeling more "empty", got it--how are the other symptoms you mentioned?

Craig Loizides · 04-13-2008, 08:05 PM

I'm about to finish my second bottle. I've been taking the maximum recommended dose by Poliquin (7 x 200mg) and I've never felt anything close to a burning sensation. I was going to give up on it, but in looking through some old posts I saw Dr. G an Robb Wolf call it legit so I figure there must be something to it. Is it OK to increase the doseage? If so, how much? I've been using NOW brand. Should I switch brands? I don't have a lot of the symptoms of deficiency mentioned, but it bothers me a little that I seem to have no response to the HCl.

Here's the original article I saw - scroll down to You Are What You Assimilate:
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1257805

Mike ODonnell · 04-13-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Winkler

Mike, I havn't experienced any acid reflux. What's AVC?

Sorry...that was supposed to be ACV...Apple Cider Vinegar...helps in digestion...that and the other 1001 uses....

I love Poloquin's stuff.....but like all geniuses he is subject to the 80/20 rule....80% brilliance....20% craziness....I think HCL falls into the 20%.....Hell even T-nation didn't start selling it so it can't be that good.....

Neal Winkler · 04-13-2008, 08:37 PM

Dr. G,

The first two days my gas increased (I had some really really good farting going on, sweet!) but now the bloating has decreased (my lower abdomen is now flatter), and the gas seems to of subsided to less than previous levels (I only recall farting one time today). I can't yet speak to my stool or recovery capacity.

Garrett Smith · 04-14-2008, 07:08 AM

Neal,
If I were you, I'd stick with it a bit longer. Take some source of probiotics, whether it is food or supplement. Report back in a couple more days.

Garrett Smith · 04-14-2008, 07:11 AM

Craig,
Why did you start taking it? Have you noticed *any* positive or negative changes since you started it, digestive or otherwise?

Also, until a certain threshold is reached (combination of your HCl + supplementary HCl), you won't feel a burning sensation. You may not be there yet.