Inadequate levels of stomach acid (regardless of the root cause) can result in many nutritional and digestive issues. For instance, a reduction in gastric acid secretion prevents adequate denaturing of folded proteins resulting in poor protein digestion and increased food allergenicity.2 Activation of pepsin (from pepsinogen) is greatest at a pH of 2 or less and its protease activity is optimal at a pH of 1.8 to 2.3.
In the stomach, betaine hydrochloride separates into betaine and hydrochloric acid. The hydrochloric acid increases stomach acid.