A study of achlorhydria among southwestern American Indians.

In a study of 982 southwestern American Indians, there was no significant difference in the frequency of loss of gastric acid secretory function between the men or women, in contrast to previous observations for Caucasians that at all ages females have a greater prevalence of anacidity than the males. An evaluation of results of various studies for different races revealed a statistically significant excess of achlorhydria for southwestern Indians in comparison with whites but not with regard to Negroes in the limited data available for the latter. There was no evidence that ethnic tribal origin, diabetes mellitus or ABO blood groups – all of which reflect hereditary influence – were related to the increased frequency of achlorhydria for the Indians of the Southwest. The environmental factor of dietary insufficiency, however, may be a contributory cause. It is suggested that an excess of achlorhydria among the Indians of the southwestern United States may be one of the basic reasons for an infrequency of duodenal ulcer.