The potential role of hypochlorhydria in the development of duodenal dysbiosis: a preliminary report

In recent years, the role of gastric and duodenal microbiota has acquired increasing importance in the homeostasis of the host, although, to date, most evidence concern the faecal microbiota. Indeed, gastric and duodenal microbiota are challenging to study, due to gastric acid, bile, digestive enzymes and rapid transit time. Specifically, the gastric acid environment may influence their bacterial composition, since the acid barrier protects against orally ingested microorganisms and leads to their inactivation before reaching the intestine. The aim of this study was to assess a correlation between intragastric pH and gastric as well as intestinal microbiota of patients with histologic gastric alterations.