Betaine HCL + pepsin

[THEHUGE]

Hi Doc.
About 10 days ago I started using a product containing 650mg betaine hcl +150mg pepsin to support digestion, 3 times a day with meals. Since the first day I've had(everyday)mild to moderate diarrhoea and TOO frequent visits to the bathroom....no stomach burning or discomfort at all. I thought a better assimilation could,if at all, lead just to an opposite effect.Is that a "normal" side effect?

[transXisomer]

diarrhea is a sign your stool is passing to fast through your body. Your body isn't having a chance to absorb the water during the last pass through your body, so hence the watery stool. I would try a lower dose of the product if you could, and / or, im not sure how you are taking the product, but try it with a solid food meal.

[THEHUGE]

I've taken it even with shakes....dumb move. But solid foods alone made no difference apparently.

[dinoiii]

Originally Posted by THEHUGE

Hi Doc.
About 10 days ago I started using a product containing 650mg betaine hcl +150mg pepsin to support digestion, 3 times a day with meals. Since the first day I've had(everyday)mild to moderate diarrhoea and TOO frequent visits to the bathroom....no stomach burning or discomfort at all. I thought a better assimilation could,if at all, lead just to an opposite effect.Is that a "normal" side effect?

To "support digestion," huh...

Why is it that you are taking this supplement?

Is there actually a concern that you are not producing enough acid?

Do you have asthma or anything?

If you don't, I would consider abandoning this particular supplement anyway to be honest with you.

This is inherently a different compound than betaine (TMG), which would be the only version I might suggest ingestion of. Betaine HCl is pretty strong and unnecessary in this case, but no this is not a reaction I am aware of.


D_

[THEHUGE]

I'm using it in attemp to breakdown the enormous amount of protein I'm eating. No,I don't have asthma or anything like GERD.So the cuncurrent use of liquid caseine should not be the culprit?

[dontknowaboutme]

You doing this after reading Poliquin's stuff?

[THEHUGE]

I've read it about 5-6 years ago,but no,definitely not because of that.

[dinoiii]

Originally Posted by THEHUGE

I'm using it in attemp to breakdown the enormous amount of protein I'm eating. No,I don't have asthma or anything like GERD.So the cuncurrent use of liquid caseine should not be the culprit?

Is there any rationale to believe you would have a problem with protein metabolism?

"Large" amounts is completely relative. Protein's constituents, amino acids, have one of 3 fates:

[1] Transformation into other nitrogen-containing compounds, like catecholamines

[2] Used as body proteins (i.e. - muscle) provided you are in a constant positive nitrogen balance

[3] Transfer of carbon skeleton post-deamination (provided not going into the above uses or the urea cycle for excretion) to things like pyruvic acid en route to glucose formation (i.e. - gluconeogenesis) or acetyl coA en route to ATP formation, but you can also get this from pyruvic acid as well


The point is that if there is no issue with all the various enzymatic systems you should not have an issue (don't really care if this is Poliquin's recommendation or what have you because that is NOT the way nutritional biochemistry works). Keep in mind, however, that there is an issue to expedite the above reactions at all - in fact, it could prove deleterious. It is likely that your expedition of the processes has left you without absorption after all. Its the peptide bonds and so forth that link aminos that is vital for assimilation so you're bypassing a significant step.



D_

[THEHUGE]

I'll flush 'em down the toilet then.Thanks...

[dontknowaboutme]

Originally Posted by dinoiii

Is there any rationale to believe you would have a problem with protein metabolism?

"Large" amounts is completely relative. Protein's constituents, amino acids, have one of 3 fates:

[1] Transformation into other nitrogen-containing compounds, like catecholamines

[2] Used as body proteins (i.e. - muscle) provided you are in a constant positive nitrogen balance

[3] Transfer of carbon skeleton post-deamination (provided not going into the above uses or the urea cycle for excretion) to things like pyruvic acid en route to glucose formation (i.e. - gluconeogenesis) or acetyl coA en route to ATP formation, but you can also get this from pyruvic acid as well


The point is that if there is no issue with all the various enzymatic systems you should not have an issue (don't really care if this is Poliquin's recommendation or what have you because that is NOT the way nutritional biochemistry works). Keep in mind, however, that there is an issue to expedite the above reactions at all - in fact, it could prove deleterious. It is likely that your expedition of the processes has left you without absorption after all. Its the peptide bonds and so forth that link aminos that is vital for assimilation so you're bypassing a significant step.



D_

Yeah, Poliquin turned into a nutjob a couple years ago.