Open AccessHunger and microbiology: is a low gastric acid‐induced bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine a contributor to malnutrition in developing countries?
Author(s) -
Sarker Shafiqul A.,
Ahmed Tahmeed,
Brüssow Harald
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
microbial biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.287
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 1751-7915
DOI - 10.1111/1751-7915.12780
Subject(s) - malnutrition , stomach , bacterial overgrowth , small intestine , calorie , gastroenterology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine
Summary Underproduction of hydrochloric acid into the stomach is frequently encountered in subjects from developing countries. We explore the hypothesis that hypochlorhydria compromises the gastric barrier and favours bacterial overgrowth in the proximal parts of the small intestine where nutrient absorption takes place. Food calories are thus deviated into bacterial metabolism. In addition to an adequate caloric supply, correcting hypochlorhydria might be needed to decrease childhood malnutrition.