Taking betaine hcl long-term?

[Galadriel_BG]

Hi, everyone,

Do you think that it is safe or OK in general to take betaine hcl long-term, I mean for more than a few months? I've been taking one capsule (650 mg) with every meal for 3 months now and my constipation has literally resolved, so I'd like to keep taking it long-term.

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi Galadriel

That is a really interesting question. I had a Google to see what it was. I suffer with constipation, only occasionally now and generally because I have eaten too much in one go, with not enough soluble fibre and I haven’t kept hydrated. I take Magnesium Citrate at bedtime-does help and maintains good magnesium levels into the bargain.

I’ve also taken to making and eating homemade veg soup which I also use as a base to curry etc which seems to be keeping the soluble fibre in my diet at good levels. I literally use a couple onions or leeks, some frozen mixed vegetables a chicken stock cube (or two) and half a mug of red lentils to thicken it a bit - no potatoes though. Comes up lovely and I play with flavours experimenting with herbs and spices, but one thing I have learnt- leads us more on that front.

I have also banished cereals from my diet as I realised the muesli I so loved was turning me into Claughton brick works.😫🤪

Have you heard of psyllium husk? It is being increasingly used in gluten-free products - breads of all sorts and is also creeping into recipes. Amazing source of soluble fibre and creates a real bread result in gluten-free offerings. I eat Promise bread - not cheap but very nice and I believe this also contributes to regularity.

I think hydration is the one thing I need to be more consistent with and when. Some folk advise to not drink around mealtimes as it dilutes the stomach acid and if you are suffering low stomach acid already it could be a factor. I did notice when I was under medicated and suffered heartburn and constipation if I drank the heartburn got worse.

I was also at this stage advised by doctor to take omeprazole - which was the worse thing possible. Thankfully I found the forum and warned off them- given great advice and started my road to recovery.

So long and the short of it would be, I don’t know, but this is what I am doing and it is helping. I’m trying to rely only on what I can’t do without. It’s enough to take vitamins and magnesium and selenium.

Oh and yes gluten-free that has helped.

😊👍

[Galadriel_BG in reply to Charlie-Farley]

When I started having overnight buckwheat or oats for breakfast, that helped a lot, but the betaine HCL has been sort of like the last piece of the puzzle for me. I started taking it because I suspected I wasn't absorbing my thyroid hormones very well, besides I have silent reflux and don't want to take proton-pump inhibitors, so I decided to try this instead. One capsule with my main meals (and none with snacks) has not resolved my reflux though, maybe I need two capsules with my main meals and one with each snack, even when a snack only consists of some fruit. Anyway, the betaine HCL is clearly helping, it has been one of the very few supplements that have had a noticeable effect for me in terms of symptoms.

[Charlie-Farley in reply to Galadriel_BG]

Hi again Galadriel

Hypothyroidism and low stomach acid are linked (perhaps not for everyone but still....)

If you have (likely) low stomach acid the last thing you need is PPI's that reduce the stomach acid yet further, but as both high and low stomach acid present in the same way (as heartburn) despite different causes, the average GP just gives out PPI's. I dont know if it is worth mentioning, but I did notice food combinations can seriously bring on the old heartburn. I kept a food diary and noticed if I eat a meal that is high fat, high carb and high sugar I would turn into a volcano.

So this was even after going gluten-free. My nemisis was gulten-free apple crumble, whuich is essentially carb, sugar and fat.

AND yet, I can eat a chicken Jalfrezi with pilau rice and be fine - strange but interesting.

[Galadriel_BG in reply to Charlie-Farley]

Thank you for your comments and advice, Charley. I haven't noticed any food combinations that aggravate my reflux. I don't get heartburn (thank God!), but I get phlegm in my throat after I eat or drink anything, even water, and I feel the need to cough to clear my throat. Betaine HCL is supposed to help with silent reflux, but so far I have been reluctant to try a higher dosage. Maybe I should, I am experimenting after all and I won't know until I try.

[Pearlteapot in reply to Galadriel_BG]

The usual advice with betaine is to increase the dose by one pill at a time until you feel a burning sensation and then cut back by one. My functional doctor expects that to be 4-5 pills. Then as stomach acid improves the burning will happen on the lower dose so you reduce again. I’m not sure about long term use but I think the idea is that if used at a sufficient dose your own acid production will resume and you won’t need it any more. No idea how this is supposed to happen though.

[Galadriel_BG in reply to Pearlteapot]

Thank you for your input! Yes, I know this is how it should be done, it's just that I hoped one might be enough, but it probably isn't. I haven't felt a burning sensation so far.

[Pearlteapot]

I haven’t done it either. I can’t seem to commit to the betaine regime as I am unaware of any problems except a miserable fail on the bicarbonate burp test. Your post has given me a push to try again

[Galadriel_BG in reply to Pearlteapot]

Good luck with it, Pearlteapot!

[humanbean]

I've never heard that betaine HCl is problematic long term. These links might be of interest :

healthygut.com/how-to-suppl...

healthygut.com/4-common-bet...

[Galadriel_BG in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for the links!

[Forestgarden]

I too suffer silent reflux with a chronic cough, & post nasal drip. I've come to the conclusion its low HCl so the LES doesn't close properly. Going gluten free has definitely reduced the mucus and reflux. I started taking betaine hydrochloride with my main meal and noticed an immediate difference with the reflux. Upped it to taking hcl with other meals too, then suddenly started noticing the acidic burning sensation in the stomach, and decided I'd better stop. Things were ok for a while after that, but reflux has been getting worse again recently so have had the occasional tablet. Its annoying! I think I just need to 'be aware' and take one after a meal if I can feel the reflux coming on

[designguy]

I took it pretty consistently for a few years and now I take it along with digestive enzymes when I have a protein heavy meal. The reality is that most people who suffer with stomach/digestive issues have too little stomach acid and taking acid blockers causes them more problems. Taking a good probiotic is also very helpful for good microbiome balance.

[Galadriel_BG in reply to designguy]

Yes, I find that Pancreatin helps me tolerate some foods better.