Capsule
Betaine HCl Plus
Enzymatic & Digestion Support
$16.00
$0.53 a day · 30-day supply
Betaine hydrochloride with pepsin. Betaine hydrochloride supports the acid conditions pepsin needs to begin breaking down protein.
In depth
About this supplement
What Is Betaine HCl Plus?
Betaine HCl Plus is two ingredients. Betaine hydrochloride, a dry salt that releases hydrochloric acid in water, at 750 mg of betaine HCl per serving. And pepsin, the protein-splitting enzyme the stomach makes for itself, at 40 mg of pepsin per serving.
How It Works in the Body
Pepsin starts life as pepsinogen, an inactive protein the stomach wall releases. Acid is the trigger: it clips pepsinogen into its working shape. Pepsin then cuts protein chains beside the bulky amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine among them, turning long chains into short peptides. It only holds that shape in acid, which is why the two ingredients travel together.
Betaine hydrochloride supplies the acid side of that pair.
What It Supports
- Protein breakdown: Pepsin makes the first cuts, so what leaves the stomach is already part-digested.
- Amino acid supply: Protein has to be taken apart before the body can use the amino acids in it.
- A normally acidic stomach: Betaine hydrochloride supports the acid conditions pepsin needs.
- Nutrient release: Iron, calcium and vitamin B12 all depend on that acid step before absorption.
Who It May Suit
Suits people eating a lot of protein, and people who prefer the enzyme the human stomach actually uses. One thing to know first: the pepsin is animal-sourced and the capsule is gelatin, so this is not a fit for vegetarian, vegan, kosher or halal eating.
Good To Know
Pepsin is measured in FCC units rather than by weight, because what counts is how much protein the enzyme can cut: this serving carries 500,000 FCC units. Talk with your healthcare provider before use, especially if you have an ulcer or gastritis, or take an NSAID, a corticosteroid or an acid-blocking medicine. More acid is the wrong direction for an irritated stomach lining.
At a glance
Allergens and certifications
-
01
Non-GMO
-
02
Gluten free
-
03
Dairy free
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04
Soy free
FAQ
Common questions
What is Betaine HCl Plus?
A two-ingredient digestive formula. Betaine hydrochloride is a dry, stable way to carry hydrochloric acid, the acid the stomach makes on its own. Pepsin is the stomach's main protein-digesting enzyme, included here in the form the body already recognizes. Both are in one capsule.
How does it work?
Two steps that depend on each other. The betaine salt dissolves and releases hydrochloric acid, dropping stomach pH into the range pepsin needs. Pepsin, once acid has activated it, cuts long protein chains into short peptides that enzymes further along can finish. Neither step works well without the other.
What makes this formula different?
It uses pepsin itself, the enzyme the human stomach secretes, rather than a fungal or plant protease standing in for it. Pepsin is measured by activity, and this serving provides 500,000 FCC units alongside 750 mg of betaine HCl per serving. The capsule is gelatin.
Who is it for?
Adults who eat substantial protein and want help at the first stage of digesting it. Acid output also tends to run lower as people get older. It is not suitable for vegetarian or vegan eating, since the pepsin is animal-sourced and the capsule is made from gelatin.
What should I know before taking it?
Betaine hydrochloride adds acid. Talk with your healthcare provider before use if you have a stomach ulcer, gastritis or reflux, or if you take an NSAID, a corticosteroid or an acid-blocking medicine, because extra acid works against those drugs and against a lining that is already irritated.
Ingredients
What is in it
Every ingredient, as listed on the label.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size 2 capsules
| Ingredient | Amount Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Betaine Hydrochloride (HCl) | 750 mg | † |
| Pepsin | 40 mg (500,000 FCC U) | † |
† Daily Value not established.
Ingredients: Gelatin (capsule), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearate, silicon dioxide.
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