Betaine HCl supplements with the fewest additives
I've been looking for a betaine HCl (betaine hydrochloride) supplement after having good luck treating my acid reflux with increased stomach acid (see Chris Kresser's ebook for some of the theory behind this). Unfortunately, most supplements contain additives like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose / hypromellose or silica / silicon dioxide to make manufacturing easier, along with unnecessary ingredients like flavoring, maltodextrin, and "vegetable glaze".
I try to avoid such excipients when convenient. If you'd like to do the same, I suggest these brands:
Recommended as low-additive betaine HCl gelatin capsules:
- hypromellose-free / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-free
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (1:10,000), betaine hydrochloride, capsule shell (gelatin and water).
Recommended as low-additive betaine HCl vegetable capsules:
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- may contain hypromellose / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (1:3,000), vegetarian cellulose capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), l-leucine.
- silica-free / silicon-dioxide-free
- may contain hypromellose / hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Betaine hydrochloride, vegetable cellulose capsule (probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose).
Other betaine HCl supplements
These are the betaine hydrochloride brands I compared to make the recommendations above.
| Name | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Best Naturals Betaine HCl (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin enzyme (NF 1:10,000), gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source), silica. |
| Biotics Research Betaine Plus HP (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin, gelatin capsule, cellulose, maltodextrin and magnesium stearate. |
| Bluebonnet Nutrition Betaine HCl (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin (1:10,000), 100% kosher vegetable capsules, vegetable cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| California Gold Nutrition (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin enzyme (NF 1:10,000), gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and silica. |
| Country Life Betaine Hydrochloride (Tablets) | Calcium carbonate, betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (USP 1:10,000), papain (from carica papaya), bromelain (from pineapple), Cellulose, stearic acid, cellulose & glycerin coating, maltodextrin, silica, lactose, magnesium stearate, natural flavor, vegetable glaze. Contains milk. |
| Designs For Health Betaine HCl with Pepsin (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (1:10,000), gelatin (capsule), vegetable stearate, silicon dioxide, microcrystalline cellulose. |
| Doctor's Best Betaine HCl, Pepsin, & Gentian Bitters (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin (1:10,000), Gentian (Gentian lutea) root, gelatin (capsule), stearic acid, magnesium silicate, silicon dioxide. |
| Integrative Therapeutics Betaine HCl (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin (acid-stable protease), vegetable capsule (modified cellulose), cellulose, calcium laurate, silicon dioxide. |
| KAL Betaine HCl+ (Tablets) | Calcium carbonate, betaine hydrochloride, pepsin, cellulose, maltodextrin, silica, stearic acid and magnesium stearate. |
| Natural Factors Betaine HCl with Fenugreek (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine hydrochloride, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) (seed), vegetarian capsule (carbohydrate gum [cellulose], purified water), magnesium stearate (vegetable grade), silica. |
| Nature's Life Betaine HCl (Tablets) | Calcium carbonate, betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (1:10,000), cellulose, stearic acid and silica. |
| Nature's Life Betaine HCl (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (1:10,000), gelatin capsule, cellulose and vegetarian magnesium stearate. |
| Nature's Plus Betaine Hydrochloride (Tablets) | Betaine HCl (from beet molasses), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, pepsin, bromelain, pancreatin, papain, silica and pharmaceutical glaze. |
| NOW Foods Betaine HCl (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin enzyme (NF 1:10,000), gelatin (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable source), silica. |
| Nutrivene Betaine HCl with Pepsin (Tablets) | Betaine HCl USP, pepsin USP, plant derived cellulose (capsule), magnesium stearate (vegetable). |
| Pharmax HCl & Pepsin (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (from porcine stomach), lipase (from Rhizopus oryzae), hypromellose, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate. |
| Pure Encapsulations Betaine HCl Pepsin (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pure pepsin (1:15,000, lactose free, porcine), ascorbyl palmitate (fat-soluble vitamin C), hypo-allergenic plant fiber (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), vegetarian capsule (cellulose from pesticide-free Southern pine, probably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, water). |
| Solaray HCl with Pepsin (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin, gelatin capsule, cellulose, maltodextrin and magnesium stearate. |
| Solgar Beta-Pepsin (Tablets) | Betaine hydrochloride (from beets), pepsin (1:10,000 units), microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearic acid, silica, vegetable cellulose, natural peppermint flavor with other natural flavors. Contains milk. |
| Source Natural Betaine HCl (Tablets) | Betaine HCl, pepsin enzyme (1:3000), stearic acid, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, modified cellulose gum, and colloidal silicon dioxide. Contains milk. |
| Standard Process Betaine Hydrochloride (Tablets) | Betaine hydrochloride, ammonium chloride, calcium lactate, pepsin (1:10,000), magnesium citrate, cellulose, lactose (milk), calcium stearate. |
| Thompson Betaine HCl (Tablets) | Betaine HCl, pepsin (1:10000), cellulose, stearic acid, silica. |
| Thorne Research Betaine HCl & Pepsin (Veggie Capsules) | Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (porcine, 1:3,000 potency), hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, leucine, silicon dioxide. |
| Twinlab Betaine HCl (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine hydrochloride, pepsin (1:10,000 NF), gelatin, cellulose, medium chain triglycerides, vegetable based stearic acid, silica. |
| Vital Nutrients Betaine HCl, Pepsin, and Gentian Root Extract (Gelatin Capsules) | Betaine HCl, pepsin (1:15,000 lactose free), gentian root extract, gelatin capsule, cellulose, magnesium silicate, leucine, ascorbyl palmitate. |