Low stomach acid can cause bloating, fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies—and your lab work might be trying to tell you. Learn how markers like ALP, BUN, iron, and triglycerides reveal hidden signs of malabsorption and poor digestion.✅
Hypochlorhydria symptoms acid include heartburn, bloating, gas, gut inflammation, and indigestion. However, symptoms can overlap with other digestive conditions like acid reflux, so if you experience these symptoms regularly it may be useful to speak with a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause.
Most cases of heartburn and indigestion are not caused by low stomach acid but rather by a condition called acid reflux (gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD), which occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus (4). It is occasionally claimed that GERD occurs as a result of not enough stomach acid, although there is very limited evidence of this. The typical treatment plan for GERD includes proton pump inhibitors (PPIs, e.g., omeprazole) and antacids. PPIs act to block gastric acid release and offer effective GERD symptom relief. However, chronic use can cause low stomach acid (5). PPIs are one of the most frequently prescribed classes of drug worldwide, but studies consistently report that they are overprescribed (6).
Over time, low stomach acid may lead to nutrient deficiencies as many digestive enzymes, such as pepsin, are more active at lower pH and are therefore less efficient in a higher pH environment. Furthermore, a pH increase in the stomach renders the gastric environment less lethal to harmful microbes, increasing the risk of intestinal infections and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
You can eat all the organic salads and grass-fed steaks in the world…
But if your digestion isn’t working right, your body won’t absorb those nutrients.
Here’s the truth:
Your stomach acid is the spark that kicks off your entire digestive process. When that spark is weak, everything downstream—enzymes, bile, absorption—starts to fizzle out.
The good news? Your lab work often shows early clues that your digestion needs help.
Let’s break down the top markers I look at in my clients’ labs that can reveal low stomach acid or malabsorption.
ALP is an enzyme that helps you break down fats and absorb minerals like calcium and zinc.
When ALP is low, it’s a classic sign your digestion—and often your bile flow—is sluggish.