Fruit and veg boost bone health

Increasing the alkali content of the diet by eating food such as fruit and vegetables may reduce calcium excretion and boost bone health. According to a study in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, "when it comes to dietary concerns regarding bone health, calcium and vitamin D have received the most attention, but there is increasing evidence that the acid/base balance of the diet is also important," said lead author Bess Dawson-Hughes from Tufts University in Boston. As adults age they become less able to excrete the acid produced via dietary metabolism, explained Dawson-Hughes. Reacting to the increasing acid levels, the body counters this by bone resorption, a process by which bones are broken down, releasing minerals such as calcium, phosphates, and alkaline (basic) salts into the blood. Bone resorption weakens the bones and increases the risk of fracture. Tufts researchers, in collaboration with scientists from Northeastern University in Boston, recruited 171 men and women aged 50 or older and randomly assigned them to receive supplements of potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride or placebo for three months. Dawson-Hughes and her co-workers report that only bicarbonate-receiving volunteers had significant reductions in calcium excretion, which indicated a reduction in bone resorption. “When fruits and vegetables are metabolized they add bicarbonate, an alkaline compound, to the body," said Dr. Dawson Hughes. "Our study found that bicarbonate had a favorable effect on bone resorption and calcium excretion. This suggests that increasing the alkali content of the diet may attenuate bone loss in healthy older adults." Major changes “Achieving alkali-producing diets would require drastic changes in food choices and be challenging in older people who tend to have long-established dietary patterns,” wrote the researchers. “Should it be shown to be beneficial, an alternative approach may be to administer bicarbonate in supplement form or to lower the acid-producing capacity of selected foods through alkali fortification,” they added.

Bonnie - hmm...I wonder who has been beating this drum forever? We have always talked about alkaline/acid balance being a key to prevent bone loss. It is nice to hear it from Tufts as well. Excess acid creates inflammation and impacts healthy bone formation. Stress, improper diet, and certain medications all can be culprits. I do agree that EXCESS protein can cause an acidity imbalance, but it has to be in extreme amounts (which I never recommend). The cereal grains are a no brainer...major acid producers!

Many of my clients have been for years taking a sodium and potassium bicarb supplement called Alka-Aid. The only thing they could have done better in this study is also use mmagnesium as a control. They would have found it would have helped as well.