| The absence of acid is called achlorhydria, but many people have this condition without ill effects. |
| There has also been an increased incidence of atrophic gastritis and achlorhydria in patients with gluten sensitivity. |
| Patients with achlorhydria may have decreased absorption of calcium that may be attenuated by taking calcium with food. |
| Anyone without achlorhydria secretes hydrogen ions from gastric mucosa whether fed orally, by a nasogastric tube, or parenterally. |
| Most patients improve quickly, although neurological damage is seldom fully reversible and atrophy of the parietal cells and achlorhydria persist. |
| Castle conceived the theory that the relation of the gastric abnormality achlorhydria to the hematologic abnormality anemia was causal. |
