Betaine hydrochloride is a chemical substance made in a laboratory. It is used as medicine.
Contents
Uses
Betaine hydrochloride has an interesting history. Betaine hydrochloride used to be included in over-the-counter (OTC) products as a “stomach acidifier and digestive aid.” But a federal law that went into effect in 1993 banned betaine hydrochloride from use in OTC products because there wasn’t enough evidence to classify it “generally recognized as safe and effective.” Betaine hydrochloride is now available only as a dietary supplement whose purity and strength can vary. Promoters still claim that some health conditions are due to inadequate stomach acid, but this claim has not been proven. Even if it were true, betaine hydrochloride wouldn’t help. It only delivers hydrochloric acid but does not itself alter stomach acidity.
Betaine hydrochloride is also used to treat abnormally low levels of potassium(hypokalemia), hay fever, “tired blood” (anemia), asthma, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), yeast infections, diarrhea, food allergies, gallstones, inner ear infections, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and thyroid disorders. It is also used to protect the liver.
Benefits
Betaine hydrochloride is a powerful digestive aid for people who may have been privy to a poor diet, prolonged dehydration and generalized stress. It has also been shown to offer digestive support to perimenopausal women and elderly individuals.
Betaine HCL has also been found to be beneficial in treating hypochlorhydria, a deficiency of stomach acid production. It is also a crucial compound in balancing homocysteine levels, a condition related to severe heart disease.
What is more, as we age, the body naturally produces less digestive enzymes. Due to this lowering in enzymatic activity, Betaine HCL levels also decrease. Depending on the individual, this can lead to sluggish digestion and poor mineral and nutrient absorption.
It also means that the body is not detoxifying itself in an optimal fashion. Things that the body would normally expel remain lodged in the system. This leads to toxic overload, and the type of redness related to chronic disease.
Many people facing poor digestion have found that taking a vegetarian form of plant derived Betaine HCL before meals aids them in their own digestive process, as well as metabolizing the food they consume.
Cautions
There isn’t enough information to know if betaine hydrochloride is safe. It might cause heartburn.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of betaine hydrochloride during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Peptic ulcer disease: There is a concern that the hydrochloric acid produced from betaine hydrochloride might irritate stomach ulcers or keep them from healing.
Interactions
No interactions are known. Please consult your pharmacist.
Other names
Acide Chlorhydrique de Bétaïne, Betaine, Bétaïne, Betaine Chlorhydrate, Betaine HCl, Bétaïne HCl, Betaine Hydrochloric Acid, Chlorhidrato de Betaína, Chlorhydrate de Bétaïne, Chlorhydrate de Triméthylglycine, TMG, Trimethyl Glycine, Trimethylglycine, Triméthylglycine, Trimethylglycine hydrochloride
References
Source: GlobalHealingCentre, http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/betaine-hydrochloride/