One digestive problem that many people have is insufficient acid production by the stomach. This may simply be a factor linked to ageing or a problem caused by external factors such as taking antacid medication, stress or lack of sleep. Alterations in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic), closely related to emotional stress, our hormonal status, the presence of neuroinflammation (activation of inflammatory cells in the nervous system by cytokines) and the quality and quantity of sleep, modify the functioning of the vagus nerve, which is the nerve that promotes the production of acid by the glands in the stomach wall. Thus, any factor that alters the production of gastric acid will cause an increase in the pH of the stomach. Because of this, the start of digestion will not be correct, and the rest of the processes that take place will not be triggered in the "perfect" way in which they should occur, as I describe in the article on the physiology of digestion: How digestion is carried out and why certain foods should not be mixed
Another problem if stomach acidity is lacking is that the vitamin B12 we ingest, which is normally bound to proteins, will not separate well from these peptides and therefore will not be able to bind to a substance produced by the stomach called intrinsic factor. This substance allows vitamin B12 to be transported along the entire length of the intestine to the final part of the small intestine, called the terminal ileum. There, the vitamin B12 will be absorbed. Without stomach acid, we are therefore exposed to a vitamin B12 deficiency which, if chronic, can lead to diseases such as anaemia or nervous disorders.
In addition, we know that the body uses gastric acidity as a "disinfectant" for food. Every time we eat, millions of micro-organisms from the mouth and the surface of food pass into our stomach. Among these micro-organisms, there are many that can be pathogenic, but most of them do not survive the high acidity of the stomach. Therefore, lower gastric acidity will be less useful in killing these micro-organisms, and will favour their overgrowth in the small intestine.
In conclusion, it must therefore be said that, in order to have a good digestion, it is very important to sleep well and to find strategies to control stress. As for antacids, their use is justified in certain cases, such as people with a hiatal hernia and severe gastro-oesophageal reflux, who are at risk of developing oesophageal cancer. However, we know on the contrary that these drugs are often used indiscriminately and without clear criteria. I am not asking anyone to stop taking medication, but I think it is important to go to the doctor who prescribed these drugs to make sure that their use is really necessary, especially if you suffer from digestive problems.
Bibliography:
Perez R (2020). Les combinaisons alimentaires. Lanore.
