HCL Support

Unique Verve’s HCL Support Key Benefits & Actions

• Betaine HCl supports healthy gastric pH — foundational to protein digestion, mineral absorption, and gastric ecology*
• Pepsin 1:10,000 — the primary proteolytic enzyme of the stomach — supports thorough breakdown of dietary protein into absorbable peptides*
• L-glutamic acid provides an additional acidifying agent to support healthy hydrochloric acid levels in the gastric environment*
• Gentian root 4:1 extract (Gentiana lutea) — a classical digestive bitter — supports healthy secretion of saliva and gastric acid*
• Supports healthy absorption of key nutrients including iron, calcium, magnesium, B12, and zinc that require acidic gastric conditions*
• Supports healthy gastric ecology by maintaining the acidic pH environment that supports normal gastric flora balance*
• Supports the gastric phase of digestion and promotes healthy stimulus for pancreatic digestive juice secretion in the small intestine*
• Supports healthy gastric secretion as part of a comprehensive digestive health strategy*
• Unique Verve’s HCL Support is designed to support the gastric phase of digestion directly and provide stimulus for the secretion of pancreatic digestive juices in the small intestine.
• Adequate hydrochloric acid is fundamental to healthy protein digestion, nutrient availability, and the maintenance of normal gastric flora — and the body’s capacity to produce it declines naturally with age.

Why Gastric Acid Matters

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) performs several essential functions in the digestive process that are frequently underappreciated. It denatures dietary proteins — unfolding their three-dimensional structure to expose peptide bonds to enzymatic cleavage. It activates pepsinogen (the inactive precursor secreted by gastric chief cells) to pepsin — the primary proteolytic enzyme of the stomach — which then begins breaking proteins into smaller peptides. It provides the acidic pH required for the absorption of key minerals including iron (non-heme), calcium, magnesium, and zinc, as well as vitamin B12 (which requires HCl to release it from dietary protein). And it maintains the acidic gastric environment that supports healthy gastric flora balance — an acidic pH serves as a natural barrier to ingested environmental organisms that would otherwise survive transit to the small intestine.*

There is a natural decline in the ability to produce hydrochloric acid with age, particularly after the age of 60. Research suggests an even greater decline in pepsin production with normal aging. Supporting healthy natural gastric secretions and acidity is therefore a meaningful component of a comprehensive digestive health strategy.*

Unique Verve’s HCL Support provides 4 synergistic ingredients, each with a distinct mechanism

L-Glutamic Acid (350mg) L-glutamic acid is an amino acid that serves as an acidifying agent in the gastric environment, contributing to the maintenance of healthy gastric pH alongside betaine HCl. It provides complementary acidification support and contributes to the formula’s overall gastric pH-supporting activity.*

Betaine HCl (300mg) Betaine hydrochloride is the primary acidifying agent in this formula. It releases hydrochloric acid upon contact with the aqueous environment of the stomach, directly supporting healthy gastric pH. Betaine HCl is the most commonly used and well-researched supplemental form of HCl for gastric support and is well-tolerated when taken with meals as directed.*

Pepsin 1:10,000 (100mg) Pepsin is the principal proteolytic enzyme of the gastric phase of digestion, responsible for the initial breakdown of dietary proteins into smaller peptides (proteoses and peptones) that can then be further digested by pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine. Supplemental pepsin (provided here at a standardized activity of 1:10,000) supports thorough protein digestion in individuals whose endogenous pepsin production may be suboptimal. Pepsin requires an acidic environment (optimal pH 1.5–2.5) to function — making it synergistic with the HCl-supporting components of this formula.*

Gentian Root 4:1 Extract (Gentiana lutea) (20mg) Gentian root is one of the most well-documented herbal digestive bitters in traditional European medicine. Bitter compounds activate bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) on the tongue and in the upper GI tract, triggering a cephalic phase digestive response — a neurologically-mediated increase in salivary enzyme secretion, gastric acid production, and bile flow that primes the entire digestive system for the arrival of a meal. Gentian’s concentrated 4:1 extract provides the bitter iridoid glycosides (primarily amarogentin and gentiopicrin) responsible for this digestive-stimulating activity, supporting the body’s own natural gastric secretion rather than simply supplementing acid externally.*

HCL Support Is Formulated To Exclude

Wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives.

Directions

Take one capsule with meals, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. Consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use. Individuals taking medication should discuss
potential interactions with their healthcare practitioner.

All Unique Verve Formulas Meet or Exceed cGMP Quality Standards and are manufactured and stored in the temperature and humidity regulated facility in USA.

cGMP = Current Good Manufacturing Practice certification means that every aspect of all Unique Verve manufacturing process has been examined, including laboratory/testing methods (for stability, potency and product formulation)

Made and Packaged in the USA

Supplement Facts & Ingredients

Serving Size: 1 Capsule
Servings Per Container: 90

L-Glutamic Acid 350 mg**
Betaine HCl 300 mg**
Pepsin 1:10,000 100 mg**
Gentian 4:1 Extract (Gentiana lutea)(root) 20 mg**
** Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients

Capsule (hypromellose and water), vegetable stearic acid, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate, and medium-chain triglyceride oil.

Legal disclaimer

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You should consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any dietary supplements.