Diet-dependent acid-base status and its relationship with glucocorticoids, bone health, serum uric acid and blood pressure

In the human body, the acid-base status has to be kept constant within a narrow pH range to maintain correct functioning of biochemical, physiological, and endocrine-metabolic processes. A variety of studies indicate that not only a clinically relevant metabolic acidosis, but also comparatively smaller diet-induced shifts, still fully within the physiological range, towards a more acidic status adversely impact on different health outcomes. Moreover, many further studies also suggest that diets, rich in fruits and vegetables, have beneficial effects on health, particularly due to their higher alkalinity implying a reduced proton load to the kidney. Against this background, the present work extends current epidemiological and physiological evidence with regard to the relationship of diet-dependent acid-base status with glucocorticoids, bone health, serum uric acid, and blood pressure. Data for the analyses came from the DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study and from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1).