High stomach pH

[Chickens44]

I have just done a second gut microbiome test. The first one I did in August last year showed I had a score of 7.2, which indicated I have little stomach acid. The one I have just done has come back higher at 8.1 (ideal range should be 5.8 - 6.5). Does anyone else have this? Is is a good indication of PA?

I am going to book an appointment with a gastroenterologist as I feel there is something still not right. I am still awaiting the Intrinsic Factor Antibody blood test results from my GP, which is now over four weeks.

[wedgewood]

Pernicious Anaemia Patients will have those high readings , but also patients on long term treatment with Proton Pump Inhibitors,or had bariatric surgery . If you are not on PPIs , etc , then assume P.A.

Do bear in mind that a negative Intrinsic Factor Antibodies test does NOT necessarily mean that you don’t have P.A. About 50% of PA patients test negative for this test . Many doctors do not know this . Your symptoms are the most important clues. Best wishes .

[Chickens44 in reply to wedgewood]

I was on omeprazole for over 15 years, 20mg daily. But I stopped taking them in December 2023 after I discovered the effect they had on stomach acid. And my pH level is higher now I’ve stopped them. To be honest I’m fed up with taking medication that mucks up the system. The doctors give out all these pills for various symptoms, without really trying to find the underlying cause. I have been on statins for years, and also antidepressants and am slowly trying to come off them all.

[Rexz]

A high pH of 7, or 8 indicates no gastric acid or achlorhydria. Which yes, I have as measured during one of my endoscopies or called gastroscopy in UK. This is the best way to measure as it is a fasting condition and done at the very beginning where they actually slurp out some gastric juice and measure that pH. One way to verify low or no gastric acid is to have your serum Gastrin tested. The lower your gastric acid or conversely the higher chronic pH will cause high levels of Gastrin in your blood a condition called Hypergastrinemia. This is because with achlorhydria your stomach never reaches a low pH of 1.4 to 2.5 and therefore your G-cells will never stop producing Gastrin. Check your Gastrin. While your at it check for Parietal Cell Antibodies. Although positive PCaB are not specific to PA, a positive PCaB plus high levels of Gastrin (achlorhydria) are diagnostic of PA. The reason, of course, is achlorhydria is and advanced stage of AIG/PA where most all of your oxyntic mucosa (Parietal Cells) have been destroyed...this will show up on gastric pathology. A diagnosis of PA will warrant you having a endoscopy/gastroscopy to screen for gastric cancer.

As Wedgewood says prolonged use of PPI can also cause low stomach acid. PPIs should never be prescribed to someone who has Autoimmune Gastritis/PA. They should also not be prescribed or used for prolonged periods as they cause irreversible damage to the acid producing proton pumps within the Parietal Cells. So it's a double whammy of both your immune system and PPI.

Best wishes, Rexz

[Rexz in reply to Rexz]

BTW chickens are one of the easier animal proteins to digest for those with achlorhydria 😂

The easiest being cooked egg whites. 🙃

[Chickens44 in reply to Rexz]

That’s a coincidence, the only food I have a slight intolerance to is egg yolks apparently! So I don’t eat as many eggs as I used to. Also I don’t keep chickens any more sadly. 🐓🥚

[wedgewood in reply to Rexz]

Thanks for your useful information 👍👍👍🐣