Research

The Research Behind the Test

The Heidelberg pH Capsule has been used in peer-reviewed research since 1960. More than 140 indexed publications span six decades, covering device validation, gastric acid physiology, pharmacokinetics, drug development, nutrient absorption, and clinical diagnostics.

The research spans institutions including the University of Heidelberg, the University of Michigan, UCSF, Thomas Jefferson University, and the University of Vienna, and includes pharmaceutical research by Pfizer, Merck, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, CIBA-Geigy, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Research by category

Device Validation and Methodology
35
Pharmacokinetics and Drug Development
30
Historical Reviews and Citing Works
27
Gastric Acid Physiology and Hyperchlorhydria
11
Hypochlorhydria and Achlorhydria
9
PPI and H2-Blocker Effects
8
Animal Studies
8
Bariatric and Post-Surgical
6
Aging and Elderly Gastric Function
3
Nutrient Absorption
3
Pediatric and Cystic Fibrosis
2

Landmark studies

01

Dressman et al. 1990

Established reference gastric pH values still used in pharmaceutical modeling today.

02

Russell et al. 1993

Definitive elderly gastric pH dataset, dispelled the myth of universal age-related achlorhydria.

03

Mojaverian et al. 1985

Validated the capsule as a marker of gastric motility.

04

Yarbrough et al. 1969

Landmark US surgical validation establishing tubeless gastric analysis.

05

Yago et al. 2014

Demonstrated betaine HCl can rescue drug absorption in PPI-induced hypochlorhydria (Genentech/UCSF).

06

Liszt et al. 2017

Identified bitter-taste receptor mechanisms for gastric acid secretion (published in PNAS).

07

Ewe & Weis 1968

533-patient correlation between Heidelberg findings and gastric biopsy histology.

08

Surofchy et al. 2019

Most recent UCSF randomized controlled trial using the Heidelberg system.

The complete annotated bibliography with full citations and PubMed links is available on heidelbergmed.com.

Six decades of evidence. One measurement.

See if the Heidelberg test is your next step.