ABOUT THE GASTROGRAM STUDY

The Heidelberg gastrogram was developed, oddly enough, in Heidelberg, Germany, during the mid 1960s. It was originally designed as a research instrument to accurately monitor a subject’s gastric (stomach) pH. pH is a scale to identify how acidic or basic a substance is. The scale is arranged such that 1 is very acidic, (i.e., hydrochloric acid), 7 is neutral, and 14 is very basic ( i.e. lye). The gastrogram proved very reliable. It did not take long for physicians interested in nutritional medicine to recognize the clinical possibilities, and to begin testing their patients. The valuable information gained from a gastric pH study can help you and your physician to more accurately diagnose imbalances in stomach acid, and design an effective treatment plan.

GASTRIC pH-IT’S A MATTER OF PROPER DIGESTION

For years, physicians have understood the critical role of stomach pH in the process of digestion. As you probably realize, incomplete digestion of the food we eat robs us of the nutrients our bodies need. The stomach is the first major digestive organ. In the low pH environment of the normal stomach (pH 1-3), large particles of food are broken down into much smaller size. By the churning action of the stomach and enzymes, working in a properly acidic medium, a major portion of digestion is accomplished. That’s the way it’s supposed to work.

But as you can guess, our bodies, for many reasons, become out of balance with nature’s template. Disturbances of the stomach’s gastric pH balance are common. This balance can be disrupted by either too much acid being produced (hyperchlorhydria), or too little (hypochlorhydria). The traditional medical view is that overproduction is the major problem. Therefore, most prescription medicines are directed at decreasing stomach acid. In many cases, this is exactly what is needed. However, the other condition, hypochlorhydria, or too little acid production, can and does frequently occur. Both conditions can impair the digestive process and cause similar symptoms, including heartburn and indigestion. The gastrogram study can help make an accurate assessment of gastric pH and answer the question of too much or too little.

HOW THE TEST WORKS

Prior to the test you will be given a sheet of easy-to-follow instructions. On the day of your study, a small (about the size of an extra-strength Tylenol) capsule will be activated and calibrated to enable it to send a radio signal with pH information. The patient then swallows the capsule. (As some people have a difficult time swallowing tablets, capsules, etc., please let us know beforehand if this is a potential problem). Once swallowed, the capsule will begin to send pH data via radio signal. This information is monitored and recorded throughout the study. To help us answer the question of too much or too little, we will be looking at several pieces of information. How acidic was your stomach at the start of the study? Was your stomach able to make additional acid in response to sipping a little bicarbonate of soda? How long did this re-acidification process take?

The entire test runs about 2 hours, start to finish, and should not be at all uncomfortable. Once completed, you should experience no aftereffects. Oh, by the way, the capsule will pass via normal means and be expelled with a bowel movement in 1 to 3 days.

Hopefully, this has provided you with the basic information to understand the gastrogram study. Most importantly, once completed, the study can help to direct the best course of treatment to correct stomach pH imbalances.