Evidence Level
Emerging
Betaine HCl is a widely used supplement in integrative medicine for suspected hypochlorhydria, though rigorous clinical trial evidence is limited. The physiological rationale is sound: stomach acid is essential for digestion, absorption, and pathogen defense, and its production declines with age. The Yago et al. (2013) study confirmed it re-acidifies the stomach. The main evidence gap is a lack of large RCTs demonstrating clinical outcomes in functional GI patients. It is a reasonable intervention for suspected hypochlorhydria after ruling out H. pylori and ulcers.