The chemical reactions in the human stomach and the relationship to metabolic disorders.

Acid hydrolysis of components from the diet in the stomach require the presence of an acid and a hydrolysing agent. The acid involved is hydrochloric acid. The present mechanism of hydrochloric acid production in the stomach is demonstrated to be incompatible with measured intracellular or intercellular concentrations of the relevant ions. An alternative set of chemical reactions whereby hydrochloric acid is formed in the stomach is presented. The hydrolysing agent is identified and a mechanism of transfer of chemical compounds into the metabolism is described. The hypothesis demonstrates that some of chemical compounds produced in the stomach can induce conditions such as asthma and that the conditions of osteoporosis and hemochromatosis can be linked to the function of the stomach. Possible treatments for these and other conditions such as stomach acidity and anaemia are proposed.