Pepsin, the active protein digesting enzyme in the stomach, is secreted from the chief cells as the inactive peptide, pesinogen. Pepsinogen is activated by stomach acid to its active from pepsin. Food proteins often have the form of a “ball of yarn” that needs to be denatured before pepsin can “cleave” individual peptide bonds. Adequate stomach acid production is required to denature proteins.
Individuals who are hypochlorhydric, often have incomplete protein digestion, which can result in digestive disturbances such as bloating, nausea, and constipation.
Adequate stomach acid also provides a barrier effect to the entry of microorganisms into the gastrointestinal tract.
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