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What Kind of Acid Is in Your Stomach?

The acid released in our stomach is hydrochloric acid (HCl), the same strong acid that is handled cautiously in chemistry labs. When food is ingested, HCl is secreted by the parietal cells of the stomach at a very high concentration (pH of around 0.8). It then mixes with enzymes, salts and water in our stomach to form the gastric juice that digests our food. This dilution results in a final stomach pH between 1.5 and 3.0.

  1. The Trigger

    • A considerable amount of gastric juice is released in the stomach even before food arrives. The vagus nerves are responsible for this phenomenon. Once these nerves are stimulated by the taste or smell of food, they signal the parietal cells to release gastric acid.

    Acidic Environment

    • Digestion of protein in the stomach needs an acidic environment for the formation of pepsin (an enzyme) from its precursor called pepsinogen. Acid kills some of the harmful germs that may be present in our food, and it is also needed for the absorption of essential minerals (calcium and iron).

    Mucus Lining

    • If hydrochloric acid can cause skin burns, why does it not cause any damage to our stomach? Because the human body has employed a protective mechanism: a mucus lining that secretes mucus and prevents any contact of HCl with the stomach cells beneath. However, parts of the mucus lining of the stomach may be damaged by bacterial infection, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug abuse or other reasons. This exposure of the stomach lining to hydrochloric acid leads to a gastric ulcer.

    Heartburn

    • When the acid secreted in the stomach reaches the esophagus due to a relaxation of the esophageal sphincter, the condition is termed "heartburn." Antacids are sometimes prescribed to neutralize stomach acid and increase the pH of the gastric juice. When the problem becomes chronic and transforms into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), proton pump inhibitors, which temporarily block the production of acid, may become part of the treatment.

    Alkaline Environment

    • While proteins are broken down in the stomach in an acidic environment, an alkaline environment is needed in the small intestine to digest carbohydrates. Accordingly, the acid present with semi-digested food that enters the small intestine is ultimately neutralized with an alkaline juice secreted by the pancreas.

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