Re: Heartburn

[Guest guest]

Betaine HCl with pepsin can reduce heartburn by speeding up the digestion process, leaving little or no food to cause reflux problems.

Not correct: If it gets better, then the problems was probably a deficiency of betaine HCl.

To clarify, Betaine HCl is simply a donor of HCl (hydrochloric acid) stomach acid. If your stomach acid production od too low, this has nothing to do with Betaine.

On a separate note, Anhydrous Betaine also called Trimethylglycine has proven to be highly effective in treating fatty liver (steatosis), which many people with HIV have. The doses used, something like 4 to 5 grans per day, would make Betaine HCl very inappropriate as it would donate far too much Hydrochloric acid to your stomach.

You can find many additional studies in Medline.

Betaine, a promising new agent for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study.

Abdelmalek MF, Angulo P, nsen RA, Sylvestre PB, Lindor KD.Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;96(9):2711-7.

Comment in:

Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;96(9):2534-6 PMID: 11569673.

Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Surgical Pathology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.

OBJECTIVES: No effective therapy currently exists for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Betaine, a naturally occurring metabolite of choline, has been shown to raise S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels that may in turn play a role in decreasing hepatic steatosis. Our aim was to determine the safety and effects of betaine on liver biochemistries and histological markers of disease activity in patients with NASH.

METHODS: Ten adult patients with NASH were enrolled. Patients received betaine anhydrous for oral solution (Cystadane) in two divided doses daily for 12 months. Seven out of 10 patients completed 1 yr of treatment with betaine.

RESULTS: A significant improvement in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.02) and ALAT (p = 0.007) occurred during treatment. Aminotransferases normalized in three of seven patients, decreased by >50% in three of seven patients, and remained unchanged in one patient when compared to baseline values. A marked improvement in serum levels of aminotransferases (ALT -39%; AST -38%) also occurred during treatment in those patients who did not complete 1 yr of treatment. Similarly, a marked improvement in the degree of steatosis, necroinflammatory grade, and stage of fibrosis was noted at 1 yr of treatment with betaine. Transitory GI adverse events that did not require any dose reduction or discontinuation of betaine occurred in four patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Betaine is a safe and well tolerated drug that leads to a significant biochemical and histological improvement in patients with NASH. This novel agent deserves further evaluation in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

>> Bob,> > We help people with this all day long, and, most of the time, this easy> solution works for those I know who have tried it:> > Betaine HCl (betaine hydrochloride) plus pepsin taken before meals seems> to work most of the time. It's a digestive enzyme that's found in most> health food stores (and buyers clubs). It's packaged by Bluebonnet, Twin> Labs, and others. (In this case, I prefer the Bluebonnet brand.)> > After a while of taking this I've been told our clients stop taking the> betaine HCl because the acid reflux seems to go away. When the acid> reflux starts up again, they start taking the betaine HCl again.> > I heard about this from Lark Lands (www.larklands.net). She explains that> sometimes the valve that keeps your digestive juices from backing up into> your esophagus gets stuck in the open position. This could be caused by a> lack of betaine HCl and the only way to unstick the valve is to add more. > If it gets better, then the problems was probably a deficiency of betaine> HCl. If the acid reflux gets worse, then see your doctor about being> treated for acid reflux disease.> > Fred Walters, Jr.> > > > >> > Bob> >> >> >> >> >> >> > Welcome to our PozHealth group!> > If you received this email from someone who forwarded it to you and would> > like to join this group, send a blank email to> > PozHealth-subscribe and you will get an email with> > instructions to follow. You can chose to receive single emails or a daily> > digest (collection of emails). You can post pictures, images, attach files> > and search by keyword old postings in the group.> >> > For those of you who are members already and want to switch from single> > emails to digest or vice versa, visit www.yahoogroups.com, click on> > PozHealth, then on "edit my membership" and go down to your selection. The> > list administrator does not process any requests, so this is a> > do-it-yourself easy process ! > > Thanks for joining. You will learn and share a lot in this group!> >> > NOTE: I moderate, approve or disapprove emails before they are posted.> > Please follow the guidelines shown in the homepage. I will not allow> > rudeness, sexually explicit material, attacks, and anyone who does not> > follow the rules. If you are not OK with this, please do not join the> > group.> >> > Forward this email to anyone who may benefit from this information!> > Thanks!> > In Health,> >> > Vergel (PoWeRTX@a...)> > List Founder and Moderator> >> >