Lab marker · Low

Low Pepsinogen (I and II): what it means

A Pepsinogen (I and II) result below the normal range is considered low. Here is what a reduced Pepsinogen (I and II) can point to, and when it is worth discussing with a doctor.

Reference range: pepsinogen I ~30–130 ng/mL; a low pepsinogen I and a low pepsinogen I/II ratio suggest atrophy of the stomach lining (atrophic gastritis), a risk marker for gastric cancer

Understand your full result

What a low Pepsinogen (I and II) can mean

  • Atrophic gastritis — a low pepsinogen I and a low I/II ratio suggest the stomach lining has thinned.
  • Increased long-term stomach cancer risk — the reason the test is used as a marker.
  • Reduced stomach acid — can impair absorption of iron and vitamin B12.
  • Autoimmune (pernicious anaemia) or H. pylori-related atrophy — the common underlying causes.

When to discuss with a doctor

Pepsinogen is a risk marker for the state of the stomach lining rather than a routine test. The pattern to note is a low pepsinogen I with a low pepsinogen I/II ratio, which points to atrophic gastritis — a thinning of the stomach lining that reduces acid, can contribute to iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, and over years raises the risk of stomach cancer. A result suggesting atrophy usually leads to further assessment such as endoscopy, testing for H. pylori, and sometimes ongoing surveillance, guided by a doctor. It is always interpreted together with symptoms, H. pylori status and other results, not on its own. Mediora.AI shows pepsinogen alongside B12 and iron markers so the atrophic-gastritis pattern is visible; the interpretation and any follow-up belong with your doctor.

Keep reading

One value is a snapshot. Upload the full test to see every marker explained together.

Upload your test - free

Mediora.AI is informational - interpretation, not a diagnosis. A single out-of-range value is common and often benign; always discuss decisions with your doctor.