The Diagnosis and Management of Achlorhydria

Achlorhydria is defined as a decrease in secretion quantity or decrease in the acidity of gastric acid. Gastric acid has several functions including activating other digestive enzymes, deciphering the food particles in the digestive process, essential vitamins and minerals absorption, and eliminating most of the microorganisms that enter with the food. There is no specific management for achlorhydria. Patients with achlorhydria in addition to experiencing disorders of HCl formation generally also suffer from pepsin deficiency. Therefore, pepsin is usually given to support the provision of betaine HCl. Patients with achlorhydria should be periodically monitored for early diagnosis of anemia due to iron deficiency and/or cobalamin. Calcium and vitamin D deficiency can be monitored through serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D level as well as bone density examination