Anyone taking Betaine for stomach problems?

[shipscat]

Morning all, I've just heard about Betaine, does anyone know if it is worth taking for acid reflux problems? I have PA so want to know whether it will be absorbed and if there are any benefits/side effects.

Many thanks

[Jose651]

Hi shipscat,

Although I don't take Betaine/Betaine and Pepsin there are a lot of members on TUK forum that do.

Or you click on the search symbol - above write a post - and type in Betaine all previous posts/ replies will come up.

Hope this helps, 😊

J

[fbirder]

I presume you mean Betaine HCl rather than trimethylglycine (the long name for betaine). The former is to restore the acidic conditions in the stomach if you suffer from achlorhydria (lack of stomach acid). If you have PA then it's likely that you have low stomach acid, rather than high; but the symptoms are very similar. Because it acts in the stomach itself, absorption isn't a factor.

I used to take betaine HCl with meals, and still do when eating out. My preferred acid supplement is lime juice but that's a hassle to take to a restaurant. The Betaine HCl worked, but I found it difficult to settle on the correct amount. I'm sure that, at one stage, I took too much and killed off some of my gut bacteria (I had symptoms similar to those I'd had after a strong course of antibiotics - and taking a probiotic, Symprove, fixed it).

Trimethylglycine (TMG) is recommended for treating high levels of homocysteine, which can rise with low B12. But isn't worthwhile otherwise.

Your PA mainly affects absorption of B12. Other minerals and vitamins can have absorption problems due to the lack of stomach acid, but not to the same extent as the B12 problem.

[shipscat in reply to fbirder]

Many thanks, I should have mentioned in my post that I also have an underactive thyroid which I also understand causes low stomach acid. I always thought my stomach acid was high and I've been taking Lansaprazole on an occasional basis when I go out for a meal or go on holiday. You think the GP would know the connection between PA/thyroid and low stomach acid. Do you know what type of test is needed to confirm for low stomach acid?

I think I need to confirm whether it is high or low before taking any further supplements/remedies.

[fbirder in reply to shipscat]

There's a simple test that your doctor would pooh-pooh if you told him (but he would also say there's no way they can actually test it).

First thing in the morning dissolve a teaspoon of baking powder in a small glass of water and drink it. The sodium carbonate will react with any acid in the stomach to produce carbon dioxide. Quite a bit of carbon dioxide. And it wants to escape.

After a brief wait you'll need to burp, and burp and burp. That's if you have acid in your stomach. If you haven't got any then you might produce a little burp or two from swallowed air.

[shipscat]

After reading posts on the PA and thyroid forums I have decided to try apple cider vinegar. I'll let you all know how I get on.

thanks again!

[pvanderaa]

I also use orange juice, eat an orange or some tomato salsa to settle my upset stomach.

I supplement my weekly cyano-B12 with a daily 500 mg TMG. I find every little bit of support for B12 helps.

[shipscat]

Bought some organic apple cider vinegar, tried a desert spoonful with water and honey in a small shot glass before going to bed. Made me burp quite a lot but no heartburn so a good start. I just wondered when is the best time to take the ACV- before or after food and how many times a day?. What have others found worked best?

Thanks again. I can't believe that I've been taking antacids, PPI's for years thinking I had high stomach acid.

Fingers crossed X