View full article | The “real” diagnosis for food-cobalamin malabsorption syndrome is hypochlorhydria

Abstract

In naturopathic medicine, we sometimes use diagnoses that are not widely used by mainstream (conventional) medicine. One such diagnosis is hypochlorhydria, which refers to an increased gastric pH as a result of deficient hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin secretion. Hypochlorhydria has occasionally been mentioned as a factor in certain medical conditions (e.g., pernicious anemia, alcoholism, and partial gastrectomies),1 but has received minimal recognition as a diagnostic consideration.

Authors: Jonathan Prousky, N.D., FRSH

Keywords:food-cobalamin malabsorption syndrome, hypochlorhydria, supplemental hydrochloric acid, pepsin