Anemia can be related with low Iron. HCL or stomach acid plays important roles of absorption of iron. Some people may tell you that vitamins or minerals are absorbed in small intestine not in stomach. Yes majority of nutrients are absorbed in small intestine. But fact is that if you miss the initial processing of nutrients to make it bio-available for absorption in intestine you are likely to miss some nutrients. They will just pass through your gastrointestinal tract without proper absorption.  How much nutrients you in the mouth, you will likely miss the nutrients if your body fails to process the same. Here we will show you How weak stomach acid can cause iron deficiency anemia and remedies.

Iron is a essential minerals that has to to obtain from external sources. It plays critical role in transportation of oxygen rich blood around of the body. Deficiency of which can lead to  iron deficiency anemia.

How weak stomach acid can cause iron deficiency anemia and remedies

Usually human obtains iron from two food sources animal sources and plant sources. Organic heme-iron primarily comes from animal source and inorganic non heme iron primarily from plant source. However the way of absorption inside the body of both sources of iron differs very much from each other. Plant source of iron is encased with fiber, so processing of iron from plant source is difficult than heme iron. Problem of absorption mainly occurs in the case of inorganic non heme iron when ph of stomach acid or gastric juice is high.

Low ph indicates strong acidic environment, in the other way high ph indicates weak gastric juice.

Processing of non heme iron inside the stomach

Human body processes usually two form of iron ferric iron and ferrous iron. Ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron and so the body can more easily process reduced form than ferric iron.

The absorption of inorganic iron in the small intestine largely depends on bio-availability of inorganic iron based upon its chemical and physical state when it reaches its point of entry.  In neutral or near neutral acidic condition, ferric irons normally undergo polymerization. And on the other hand ferrous irons tend to oxidize to ferric iron.  Presence of acid limits polymerization of ions of ferric iron and prevents protein binding of irons. And thus increases bio-availability of iron for absorption. Normal gastric juice contains substances that stabilize iron and prevent it from eventual participation with other substance in low acid level. Normal gastric juice substances combine with iron, prevent eventual participation and maintain a soluble form at neutral acid level. This soluble state of iron improves bio-availability of iron. And thus helps small intestine to absorb iron.(1)

Where are the researches?

In a study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researcher found that patients with weak stomach have severe malabsorption of non heme iron. They found, weak stomach reduced the normal increase in heme-iron absorption from hemoglobin in response to iron deficiency. They further informed that weak stomach acid can be an independent cause of iron deficiency anemia.(2)

Study in vivo found that absorption of non heme iron correlated well with the ability of gastric juice to solubilize the iron from non heme source. Based on result researchers concluded that pH is the only factor in gastric juice that is of importance in modifying the absorption of non heme iron.(3)

In another study, 35 of 44 people with chronic iron deficiency found to have below normal acid secretion.(4)

Helicobacter pylori infection, ulcer relation

Helicobacter pylori bacteria infection leads to loss of parietal cells i.e. cells in your stomach lining and increase ph of gastric juice. Increase of ph indicates weak acidic value.(5) Helicobacter pylori and gastric acid has a close and reciprocal relationship. (6)

And a major percentage of people iron deficiency anemia has helicobacter pylori infection. Apart from other factor, iron deficiency is most often the result of gastrointestinal disease associated with abnormal blood loss or malabsorption. (7)

Helicobacter pylori commonly causes stomach infection, ulcer as well as closely relates with iron deficiency anemia. This infection reduces acid secreting cells in stomach.

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This deficiency mainly associated with non-heme iron i.e. vegetarian source of iron, plant source of iron and some fortified foods. Iron in vegetarian source is usually encased with fiber and inorganic state. And so to absorb iron, it must be separated from fiber. And gastric juice contains ascorbic acid and plays important role in reduction iron to more bio available ferrous form. (8) For that reason vitamin C helps in proper absorption of iron as ascorbic acid is the reduced form of vitamin C.

Bottom Line:

One advantage of non heme iron is its slow absorption and release of iron in blood stream which prevent iron toxicity. However weak HCL or gastric juice secretion in stomach impairs the absorption process which can lead to iron deficiency anemia specially in people with vegetarian or vegan source of foods. Restoring gastric juice can ease the problem if tested low. In our earlier article we mentioned about importance as well as restoration of gastric juice to normal stage. Regular taking of antacid, proton pump inhibitor or other acid suppressor weakens stomach acid as well as makes the situation worse. Individual should not use those drug as over the counter medicine. Stomach acid also weakens with ages. Some other lifestyle factors and mineral deficiency may also play role.

People may have stomach infection, ulcer in stomach. In such case restoration of stomach acid should be done only after eradication of bacteria that causes stomach infection or ulcer and healing of ulcer in stomach along with some must do prevention measures.

Hope this article will provide a light on How weak stomach acid can cause iron deficiency anemia and remedies. We have linked other related article here so that reading them help to understand better.

Disclaimer: The above article is a generalized health information purpose only not for individual
with specific health condition. Individual may have varying experience to the same food based upon
heath condition, allergic reaction to foods.Any application of above methods should be under guidance 
of proper knowledgeable healthcare professional only.

Source and references: 1.Role of gastric secretion in iron absorption,A. Jacobs and P.M. Miles,Gut,1969,10,226-229 2.Is achlorhydria a cause of iron deficiency anemia?,Betesh AL1, Santa Ana CA1, Cole JA1, Fordtran JS2.,Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jul;102(1):9-19 3.Bezwoda W, Charlton R, Bothwell T, Torrance J, Mayet F. The importance of gastric hydrochloric acid in the absorption of nonheme food iron. The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 1978, July 1978 Volume 92, Issue 1, Pages 108–116 4.Gastric acid secretion in chronic iron-deficiency anaemia,A.JacobsM.D. Lond., M.C.Path. (SENIOR LECTURER IN HÆMATOLOGY)J.H.LawrieM.B. Glasg., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.S.E.(LECTURER IN SURGERY) C.C.EntwistleM.B. Brist., M.C. Path.(LECTURER IN HÆMATOLOGY)H.CampbellM.A., M.B. Durh., F.S.S.(SENIOR LECTURER IN MEDICAL STATISTICS),The Lancet, Volume 288, Issue 7456, 23 July 1966, Pages 190-192 5.How does Helicobacter pylori cause mucosal damage? Its effect on acid and gastrin physiology, Calam J1, Gibbons A, Healey ZV, Bliss P, Arebi N.,Gastroenterology. 1997 Dec;113(6 Suppl):S43-9; discussion S50 6.Helicobacter pylori and gastric acid: an intimate and reciprocal relationship,Helge L. Waldum, Per M. Kleveland, and Øystein F. Sørdal,Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016 Nov; 9(6): 836–844 7.Iron deficiency, Helicobacter infection and gastritis,Hershko C1, Ronson A.,Acta Haematol. 2009;122(2-3):97-102. 8.Regulation of intestinal non-haem iron absorption,M Lombard, E Chua, and P O'Toole,Gut. 1997 Apr; 40(4): 435–439

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