The secretion of gastric juice occurs through the work of the gastric mucosa. It is a colorless, odorless liquid with small lumps of mucus. Any deviations from this norm, such as a change in color and density, indicate the presence of problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The composition of gastric juice is complex, since it is produced by various cells of the gastric mucosa. Its main component is hydrochloric acid, which, in turn, has a concentrated composition.
Composition of gastric juice
In addition to hydrochloric acid, gastric juice contains the following components
- Bicarbonates (they neutralize the harmful effects of hydrochloric acid on the walls of the stomach).
- Pepsinogen, which turns into pepsin (the latter is involved in the breakdown of proteins). Pepsin is divided into another family of enzymes, each of which has its own functions.
- Mucus (it also protects the mucosa fromdestruction).
- Castle Factor (an enzyme that helps absorb B12).
However, the main component of gastric juice is still hydrochloric acid. She will be discussed.
What is hydrochloric acid?
It is produced by parental cells of the glands of the stomach, located on the body and bottom of the organ. In essence, the mucous membrane is divided into several zones: one produces hydrochloric acid, the other releases bicarbonates that neutralize it. It is noteworthy that men have several times more parental cells than women.
The content of other acids in the stomach is negligible. So, if lactic acid is found in it, this indicates that hydrochloric acid is produced in small quantities (lowered pH of the stomach) or not produced at all. The latter may indicate such serious failures as oncology.
Hydrochloric acid in the stomach has a strict concentration level - it is 0.3-0.5% (or 160 mmol / l). Its composition is so concentrated that if there were no protective substances in the gastric juice and mucous membrane, it would burn out its own stomach. That is why with insufficient production of mucus by the stomach, a person develops gastritis or a duodenal ulcer. Acid is constantly present in the stomach, but in response to food intake, its amount increases. Basal secretion of hydrochloric acid (that is, morning) is 5-7 mmol / hour.
A he althy stomach produces up to 2.5 liters of hydrochloric acid per day!
Secretionhydrochloric acid has 3 phases.
- Reaction to the taste and smell of food. It is launched and transmitted from the central nervous system to gastric cells through nerve endings.
- After food enters the body, a more significant phase begins. Gastrin acts on parental cells, stimulating the production of hydrochloric acid.
- The final phase begins after the chyme (already digested food) enters the duodenum. Due to the increase in hydrochloric acid, the stomach produces somatostatin, its blocker.
What is the function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
First of all, it improves digestion, destroys most of the bacteria that enter the stomach with food, which slows down or even interferes with the putrefactive process.
What are the functions of hydrochloric acid in the stomach? Below is a list detailing this issue.
- Protein denaturation (this is the destruction of their molecular structure) and their swelling.
- Activation of pepsinogen, which turns into pepsin, one of the most important enzymes that break down proteins.
- Creating an acidic environment that makes enzymatic digestion much easier.
- Evacuation of food from the stomach to the duodenum where digestion continues.
- Antibacterial action - many bacteria cannot live in such an aggressive environment.
- Excitation of the secretion of pancreatic juice.
Special attention deserves the role of hydrochloric acid in the breakdown of proteins. The importance of proteins in the body is enormous. This question for manybeen studied by scientists for decades. It has been established that hydrochloric acid in the stomach stimulates the production of pepsin, creating a favorable environment for its activity, promotes partial denaturation and swelling of proteins. In the duodenum, hydrochloric acid stimulates secretin production, improves iron absorption and has a bactericidal effect.
Proteins and gastric acidity
The role of hydrochloric acid in the digestion of proteins is still unclear. However, it has been established that in inflammatory diseases of the stomach, its secretion is disturbed and, as a result, the digestion of proteins.
The importance of proteins in our body cannot be overestimated. This group is divided into many subgroups, each of which is engaged in its own business. So, hormone proteins control life processes (growth and reproduction), enzyme proteins provide chemical processes (respiration, digestion, metabolism), hemoglobin saturates cells with oxygen.
Denaturation of proteins (this facilitates the process of their subsequent splitting) allows the body to use their properties to the maximum. Every protein is made up of amino acids. Most of them are synthesized by our body, but there is a group of so-called essential amino acids that enter the body only from the outside.
Gastric acidity
Such an important aspect as the pH of the stomach directly depends on hydrochloric acid. And if there is a deviation from the norm, gastritis, dyspeptic disorders and other unpleasant conditions occur. Acidity instomach can be low, normal and high.
Despite the "popularity" of high pH, often people have low or normal acidity. The latter is from 0.8 to 1.5.
Increased stomach acid
Reduced acidity occurs with constant stress and inflammatory diseases. This happens due to the excitation of the sympathetic nervous system, which directly affects the production of gastric juice. A decrease in acidity entails a deterioration in the digestion of food and stomach cramps. Food remains in the cavity, begins to rot, enhancing the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. The person suffers from flatulence and nausea. The latter is a response to stomach spasm. Moreover, the process of absorption of all the nutrients contained in our food is actively disrupted, which leads to disruption of the entire body. By the way, it is on the basis of a natural decrease in pH after 40 years that a person begins to age rapidly. That is, hydrochloric acid in the stomach actually affects the he alth of the whole organism.
The stomach, surprised by the overgrowth of bacteria, begins to turn on the protective function, resulting in inflammation. He is treated with drugs that further inhibit the production of hydrochloric acid - and the circle closes. A person is forced to constantly visit a doctor.
Even heartburn, which we used to think of as a consequence of an increase in the amount of gastric juice, is considered only a product of acetic acid fermentation.
Bin a sick stomach, lactic acid begins to actively form. Due to the inability of the stomach to produce a sufficient amount of mucus, it damages the walls of the organ. In such cases, the diagnosis is gastroduodenitis.
Parasites and low stomach acid
Parasites cannot live in a he althy stomach (however, this does not exclude their localization in other organs and systems of the body), since hydrochloric acid literally burns them. But as soon as it decreases, colonies of parasites begin to flourish, causing extremely unpleasant symptoms. The absorption of nutrients is even more disturbed, there is a risk of food allergies (if the parasites “did not like” the food they eat).
Increased stomach acid
Despite the opinion of many gastroenterologists, hyperacidity is much less common than low acidity. The danger is that with prolonged hypersecretion of gastric juice, ulcers of the esophagus and stomach appear. The patient is concerned about heartburn and pain. This is where proton pump inhibitors, Omez and its analogues, will be useful. Symptoms are relieved with the help of antacids - Gaviscon, Phosphalugel, etc.
To diagnose high acidity, an instrumental examination is required, because according to the symptoms it is easy to confuse it with low secretion.
Types of determination of stomach acidity
Hydrochloric acid in the stomach (that is, its level) is determined by several methods.
- Probing. It is done using a special tube through which the contents of the stomach are sucked.
- Intragastric pH-metry. Sensors measure acidity directly in the stomach.
The second method is considered the most informative.
Stomach acidity is something that most doctors overlook, but it's actually extremely important in diagnosing and treating GI disease.
