Purica Betaine HCL (180 VCaps) holds 500 mg of betaine hydrochloride in each vegetable capsule, in an amber glass bottle of 180. It is made in Canada, licensed for sale by Health Canada and bears NPN 80055927. Helps to support digestion. Helps to support liver function.
What betaine HCL is
Betaine hydrochloride is betaine, also called trimethylglycine or TMG, joined to hydrochloric acid. Once the capsule dissolves in the stomach, the two parts come apart. The hydrochloric acid adds to the acid your stomach already produces, and stomach acid is what activates pepsin, the enzyme that starts to break proteins down. The betaine half carries three methyl groups, which the liver uses when it converts homocysteine into methionine.
How to take it
The label dose for adults is 1 to 2 capsules, 1 to 3 times a day, with food. The acid is meant to act on a meal, so take it at the start of eating or partway through rather than on an empty stomach. A common approach is one capsule with the largest protein meal of the day, then a second capsule at that meal once you know how it sits. At the top dose of two capsules three times a day the bottle lasts 30 days; at one capsule a day it lasts six months.
Who should check first
The label asks you to consult a health care practitioner before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have peptic ulcers, excess stomach acid or high cholesterol. Swallow the capsules whole with water. The full cautions are in the directions tab.
What is in the capsule
Each capsule contains 500 mg of betaine hydrochloride. The other ingredients are hypromellose, the plant cellulose that forms the shell, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate from a plant source. Every ingredient on the list is plant-derived or mineral, which makes the capsules suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Purica bottles them in amber glass with a metal lid and seals the opening at the factory.
Why a 180 count
Betaine HCL is usually taken with more than one meal a day, which empties a small bottle fast. The 180 count covers a full month at the highest label dose and several months at the lower ones, and it is the only size Purica makes.
Purica Betaine HCL FAQ
Should I take it with every meal?
The label allows up to three doses a day, each one with food. Most people match the doses to their meals with the most protein.
Is betaine HCL the same as TMG?
Both supply betaine. Betaine HCL is the form bound to hydrochloric acid, while plain TMG products carry no acid.
Can I open the capsules?
Swallow them whole. Hydrochloric acid is harsh on the mouth and teeth when it is not inside a capsule.
Is it vegan?
Yes. The shell is hypromellose and the magnesium stearate comes from a plant source.
Directions Adults: take 1-2 capsule(s) 1-3 time(s) per day. Take with food/meal.
Cautions and warnings: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have peptic ulcers, excess stomach acid or high cholesterol, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. Store at room temperature 15-30°C. Bottle opening sealed for package security. Protect from moisture.
