TikTok influencers and naturopaths are encouraging people to test their stomach acid levels by drinking baking soda mixed with water and waiting to see how long it takes to burp. However, gastroenterologists have warned against the test, saying it’s not accurate.
Key takeaways:
- Stomach acid helps our bodies digest food, break down protein, and absorb nutrients from what we eat.
- Symptoms of low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) include indigestion, bloating, gas, heartburn, and more.
- An at-home test for low stomach acid claims you can test your levels by mixing baking soda with water and seeing how long it takes to burp.
- A gastroenterologist said the test has not been researched enough to be considered accurate.
- The only way to test your stomach acid levels accurately is to see a medical professional and do a clinical test.
What is the “burp test?”
Advocates of the so-called “burp test” claim it can show whether a person has low stomach acid.
To take the test, you mix ¼ teaspoon of baking soda with six ounces of filtered water and drink it first thing in the morning before eating anything, TikTok user Jayde MacLean said in her video.
Then you simply wait and see how long it takes you to burp. If it’s under five minutes, your stomach acid levels are likely fine, MacLean said. But if it takes longer than five minutes, they might be low, she said.
The idea behind the test is that when baking soda mixes with the acid in your stomach, it produces carbon dioxide, which causes burping. If it takes a little while, it may suggest there’s a lack of acid in your stomach.
Why does stomach acid matter?
The acid in the stomach is hydrochloric acid, and if you have low levels, it’s known as hypochlorhydria. The pH of the stomach should be less than three, and if you have hypochlorhydria, it’s three to five.
Hydrochloric acid is part of the three to four liters of gastric juice that helps our bodies digest food, break down protein, and absorb nutrients from what we eat every day. The hydrochloric acid also kills viruses and bacteria in the stomach, while the mucus and bicarbonate in the gastric juice prevents the stomach wall from being damaged by the acid.
If your stomach acid is low, it can therefore inhibit your body’s ability to absorb nutrients leading to deficiencies, and also cause issues such as:
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Burping
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Undigested food in feces
- Weak fingernails
However, these symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors and do not necessarily prove a person has low stomach acid levels.
There are a variety of causes of low stomach acid, with people over the age of 65 more likely to have it. Chronic stress, being deficient in zinc and B vitamins, surgeries such as gastric bypass, and extended use of certain medications such as antacids can contribute to low stomach acid levels.
Is the “burp test” legitimate?
Despite its resurgence on TikTok, the “burp test” is not new and has been used as a free, at-home test for many years. Some advocates of the test recommend doing it on different days to take an average.
While it may make sense in theory, there is no research to back up the test’s accuracy, gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, MD said.
“If we don’t really know what we’re getting from the test, then it should not be used clinically, as it could be wrong and misguide our choices.”Dr. Bulsiewicz
The test won’t harm you and could be a first step before going to see a doctor, but on its own the burp test isn’t an accurate way to diagnose low stomach acid.
How to test stomach acid levels accurately
There are various evidence-based medical ways to test for low stomach acid, all of which require seeing a doctor. Below, we discuss legitimate tests to examine stomach acid levels.
The Heidelberg test
The Heidelberg test is noninvasive and requires swallowing a capsule containing a high-frequency transmitter that measures the stomach pH. You then drink a baking soda solution, which is alkaline, and the transmitter measures how long it takes for the stomach to return to its previous pH, allowing doctors to see how well a person’s stomach is producing acid.
The capsule is usually allowed to continue through the gut and then leave the body in the feces, but some practitioners keep a thin thread attached to it to give patients the option of having it removed through the mouth.
The Heidelberg test is considered the gold standard way to test stomach acid, but it’s not cheap, usually costing around $350 in the US.
The SmartPill test
The SmartPill test is similar in that it involves swallowing a capsule containing a wireless transmitter, but this one measures stomach acid levels directly. It is FDA approved and can also measure the pressure, temperature, and transit time along your digestive tract.
The SmartPill generally takes three to five days to move through the system, and it can cost as much as $2,000.
The Gastric String test
The Gastric String test is simpler than the previous two: it still involves swallowing a capsule with a string attached, but after 10 minutes the capsule is removed via the string. pH paper is then used to test the capsule, which reveals the person’s stomach acid levels.
How is low stomach acid treated?
If someone is diagnosed with hypochlorhydria after a medical test, the condition can be treated in various ways.
If the condition is linked to vitamin deficiencies, such as iron or calcium, a doctor might recommend dietary changes or supplements.
Hydrochloric acid supplements are also sometimes prescribed as these can help a person’s stomach acid return to normal, healthy levels.
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