Hypochlorhydria
Insufficient production of stomach acid, which impairs protein digestion and the absorption of iron, vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium.
Hypochlorhydria means insufficient secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The term is little known to the general public, yet the condition is common, particularly after 60 and in people on prolonged antacid treatment.
Its main causes are age, atrophic gastritis (often linked to Helicobacter pylori or an autoimmune origin), gastric surgery, and long-term use of proton pump inhibitors.
The paradox of its symptoms explains why it goes unnoticed. Bloating, slow digestion, belching and a feeling of heaviness after meals resemble those of excess acidity. The reflex is then to take an antacid, which worsens the real cause. Only a medical work-up can settle it.
The nutritional consequences are the best documented: less release of iron and vitamin B12 from their food-bound forms, reduced absorption of calcium and magnesium, and a weaker antimicrobial barrier, which acidity normally provides. A B12 deficiency on prolonged antacid treatment is a classic situation, and justifies blood monitoring.