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Diseases

Are we too acidic? Why can ordinary baking soda help more than a pharmacy?

Sources: 13 · Article: 13 991 characters

Prof. Klaus F. Kopp links the acidity attributed to modern society to high protein intake and kidney function.

  • Andrzej Frydrychowski presents baking soda as a cheap way to alkalize the body and recommends a teaspoon in the morning on an empty stomach.
  • Sodium bicarbonate is also used in medicine for specific indications, especially in people with kidney disease, but the doses have not been precisely defined.
  • No direct comparison was presented of the effectiveness of baking soda and pharmacy medicines.

What the authors write

Prof. Klaus F. Kopp

Modern society was said to have a chronic bicarbonate deficiency and acidity, linked to kidney function and high protein intake.

„Modern civilized society now also suffers chronically from a more or less severe bicarbonate deficiency and is chronically acidotic, owing to kidney function that is too low in relation to a persistently, usually excessive, protein intake or increased protein metabolism (catabolism due to exercise or illness).”Die moderne Zivilisations-Gesellschaft leidet nunmehr ebenfalls aufgrund einer zu niedrigen Nierenleistung gegenüber einer permanent meist zu hohen Eiweiß-Zufuhr oder einem gesteigerten Eiweiß-Stoffwechsel (Katabolie durch Sport oder Krankheit) chronisch an einem mehr oder weniger großen Bikarbonat-Defizit und ist chronisch azidotisch.
Das Bikarbonat-Mangel-Syndrom (BDS): Professor Dr. med. Klaus F. Kopp
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp

Sodium bicarbonate was presented as a substance that can bring great benefits when taken, but doses for different people have not been precisely defined.

„Dosage instructions are extremely vague. The different needs of people with different metabolisms and different kidney function, weight, or age have not yet been defined quantitatively. In medicine, there are specific indications for treating patients, especially those with kidney disease, with sodium bicarbonate, either by intravenous infusion or in the form of special tablets or capsules.”Dosierungsanleitungen sind dabei äußerst vage. Ein unterschiedlicher Bedarf von Personen mit unterschiedlichem Stoffwechsel und unterschiedlicher Nierenfunktion, Gewicht oder Alter konnte bislang auch nicht quantitativ definiert werden.In der Medizin gibt es für die Behandlung besonders von Nierenkranken besondere Indikationen für Natriumbikarbonat, sei es durch intravenöse Infusion oder auch in Form besonderer Tabletten oder Kapseln.
Das Bikarbonat-Mangel-Syndrom (BDS): Professor Dr. med. Klaus F. Kopp
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp

Sodium bicarbonate is used in medicine for specific indications, particularly in the treatment of people with kidney disease.

„The different needs of people with different metabolisms and different kidney function, weight, or age have not yet been defined quantitatively. In medicine, there are specific indications for treating patients, especially those with kidney disease, with sodium bicarbonate, either by intravenous infusion or in the form of special tablets or capsules.”Ein unterschiedlicher Bedarf von Personen mit unterschiedlichem Stoffwechsel und unterschiedlicher Nierenfunktion, Gewicht oder Alter konnte bislang auch nicht quantitativ definiert werden.In der Medizin gibt es für die Behandlung besonders von Nierenkranken besondere Indikationen für Natriumbikarbonat, sei es durch intravenöse Infusion oder auch in Form besonderer Tabletten oder Kapseln.
Das Bikarbonat-Mangel-Syndrom (BDS): Professor Dr. med. Klaus F. Kopp
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp

In this view, taking sodium bicarbonate is meant to support acid-base balance and blood circulation, and low bicarbonate levels were also attributed to older people considered healthy.

„In every disease, LOW bicarbonate blood levels are always found. However, sodium bicarbonate plays a central role in maintaining the body's acid-base balance and also in optimizing blood perfusion throughout the circulation and, therefore, the oxygenation of all body organs.”In the case of any disease LOW Bicarbonate-Blood-Levels are always encountered. However, Sodium-Bicarbonate plays a central role in the maintenance of the Acid-Base Balance in the organism and in addition in the optimization of blood perfusion in the circulation and therefore in the Oxygenation of all body-organs.
The Bicarbonate-Deficiency-Syndrome (BDS): Professor Dr. med. Klaus F. Kopp
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp

No recommended or long-term beneficial pH level was given for the body or its fluids.

„But unfortunately, nowhere is it stated what pH value in the body, or in any body fluid, is recommended or even good in the long term. Given the various possibilities of taking bicarbonate in powder or tablet form, perhaps...”Aber leider wird nirgendwo gesagt, welcher pH-Wert im Körper oder in welcher Körperflüssigkeit auch immer, empfehlenswert oder gar auf die Dauer gut sei.Aufgrund der verschiedenen Möglichkeiten durch Einnahme von Bikarbonat in Pulver- oder Tablettenform evtl.
Das Bikarbonat-Mangel-Syndrom (BDS): Professor Dr. med. Klaus F. Kopp
Andrzej Frydrychowski

Baking soda was described as the cheapest and simplest way to alkalize the body, with a recommendation to take a teaspoon in the morning on an empty stomach.

„Reduce oxidative stress, meaning excess free radicals. Give vitamins C, A, and E, coenzyme Q10, selenium, and zinc. Completely cut out carbohydrates and alkalize the body (the simplest and cheapest method is to take a teaspoon of baking soda in the morning on an empty stomach).”Zredukować stres oksydacyjny, czyli nadmiar wolnych rodników. Podawać witaminy: C, A i E, koenzym Q10, selen, cynk. Odstawić zupełnie węglowodany, alkalizować ustrój (najprostsza i najtańsza metoda to podawanie łyżeczki sody oczyszczonej, rano na czczo).
Czy mamy wpływ na powstawanie chorób cywilizacyjnych?
Henryk Różański

Sodium bicarbonate with citric and tartaric acids was mentioned as something once used for nausea, vomiting, and stomach problems.

„In early medicine, solutions rich in carbonic acid (for example, sodium bicarbonate mixed with citric and tartaric acids and dissolved in water; highly mineralized mineral waters) were given for nausea and vomiting, stomach problems, fever and weakness, urinary retention, fever, chlorosis, and dehydration.”W dawnej medycynie roztwory bogate w kwas węglowy (np. wodorowęglan sodu wymieszany z kwasem cytrynowym i winowym, rozpuszczony w wodzie; wody mineralne wysokozmineralizowane) podawano przy nudnościach i wymiotach, zaburzeniach żołądkowych, przy gorączce i osłabieniu, zatrzymaniu diurezy, gorączce, blednicy, odwodnieniu.
Kwas węglowy w dawnej medycynie
Henryk Różański

Pharmacies were accused of offering many products unrelated to treatment, and medicines were considered effective in only a limited proportion of cases.

„Shouldn’t Vichy in a pharmacy bring to mind the medicinal Vichy salt instead? I’ll tell you one thing: maybe 30% of medicines available on the market actually work and prove helpful when needed. The rest have fabricated and sponsored research results, serve only to make money, and are completely worthless.”Czy Vichy w aptece nie powinny kojarzyć się raczej z leczniczą solą Vichy? Jedno Wam powiem może 30% leków dostępnych w obrocie na prawdę działa i okaże się pomocnych w potrzebie. Reszta leków ma spreparowane i sponsorowane wyniki badań, służą wyłącznie zarabianiu kasy i są gówno warte.
Borelioza – Borreliosis – fitoterapia cz. III i trochę narzekania
Hubert Czerniak

The effectiveness of medicines and products from pharmaceutical companies was questioned, but they were not directly compared with the effects of baking soda.

„However, their products will help us just as much as medicines do—that is, not at all. Remember: they are not interested in curing us, only in treating us and taking our money for as long as possible. The miraculous, cheap remedies for everything advertised in the media are largely worthless.”Jednak ich produkty będą nam tak samo pomagały, jak leki- czyli wcale. Pamiętajcie- im nie chodzi o to, aby nas wyleczyć, tylko leczyć i wyciągać pieniądze jak najdłużej się da. Cudowne i tanie środki na wszystko reklamowane w mediach w dużej mierze są bezwartościowe.
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Research from PubMed · Europe PMC

We selected 4 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.

Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 2 543.

A meta-analysis found that, among critically ill patients with acute metabolic acidosis, sodium bicarbonate reduced the need for renal replacement therapy.

Aim of the study: Acute metabolic acidosis is frequent in critical illness and may be managed with volume replacement therapy, sodium bicarbonate, and renal replacement therapy (RRT). BICARICU-1 and BICARICU-2 trials provided new evidence on bicarbonate therapy. We aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of sodium bicarbonate in critically ill patients.

Results: In critically ill adults with acute metabolic acidosis, sodium bicarbonate significantly reduces RRT requirements, with Bayesian analyses suggesting a possibility of a mortality benefit, although current evidence remains inconclusive. Larger RCTs or high-quality real-world studies are needed to confirm the effect of sodium bicarbonate on mortality.

Sodium Bicarbonate for Acute Metabolic Acidosis in Critically Ill Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. · Crit Care Med 2026
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

A meta-analysis of studies in people with chronic kidney disease and metabolic acidosis found that eGFR improved after sodium bicarbonate treatment.

Aim of the study: In patients with CKD, impaired kidney acid excretion leads to the onset of metabolic acidosis (MA). However, the evidence is not yet conclusive regarding the effects of sodium bicarbonate in treating CKD with MA.

Results: Fourteen RCTs comprising 2037 patients demonstrated that sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly improved eGFR (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03 to 0.63; P = 0.03). The group receiving sodium bicarbonate had a lower hospitalization rate (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.55; P < 0.001). Higher mid-arm muscle circumference was observed with sodium bicarbonate treatment compared with those without (SMD, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.38; P = 0.003, I2<0.001). However, higher risk of elevated systolic BP was found with sodium bicarbonate treatment (SMD, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.20; P = 0.03). No significant difference in all-cause mortality was noted. In patients with CKD and MA, sodium bicarbonate supplementation may provide potential benefits in preventing the deterioration of kidney function and increasing muscle mass. However, treatment may be associated with higher BP.

Sodium Bicarbonate Treatment and Clinical Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease with Metabolic Acidosis: A Meta-Analysis. · Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2024
Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Chi-Mei Medical Center
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

In an observational study, sodium bicarbonate administration was associated with lower mortality in the intensive care unit.

Aim of the study: Sodium bicarbonate is commonly administered to treat metabolic acidosis in intensive care units (ICUs). There is limited evidence from randomized trials to support this practice, and observational studies show conflicting results. Our aim was to perform a target trial emulation evaluating the effect of bicarbonate therapy on mortality.

Results: We identified 6157 eligible admissions, of which 1764 (29%) received sodium bicarbonate. Bicarbonate therapy was associated with a 1.9% absolute mortality reduction for the primary analysis [risk ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80 to 0.91], and significant benefits were seen across all subgroups evaluated. A similar point estimate of 2.1% was observed in the sensitivity analysis, with a sustained mortality reduction seen at 30 days. In this target trial emulation, bicarbonate administration was associated with a small but statistically significant reduction in mortality for patients with metabolic acidosis. Large sample sizes would be required to demonstrate this effect in a randomized trial.

Sodium bicarbonate administration for metabolic acidosis in the intensive care unit: a target trial emulation. · Intensive Care Med 2025
Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · Queensland University of Technology
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyobservation of people
Participants6 157

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

In a small pilot study, sodium bicarbonate sped up correction of pH and base deficit in patients with metabolic acidosis in intensive care.

Aim of the study: To identify the best population, design of the intervention, and to assess between-group biochemical separation, in preparation for a future phase III trial.

Results: The primary feasibility aim was to assess eligibility, recruitment rate, protocol compliance, and acid-base group separation. The primary clinical outcome was the number of hours alive and free of vasopressors on day 7. The recruitment rate and the enrollment-to-screening ratio were 1.9 patients per month and 0.13 patients, respectively. Time until BE correction (median difference, -45.86 [95% CI, -63.11 to -28.61] hr; p < 0.001) and pH correction (median difference, -10.69 [95% CI, -19.16 to -2.22] hr; p = 0.020) were shorter in the sodium bicarbonate group, and mean bicarbonate levels in the first 24 hours were higher (median difference, 6.50 [95% CI, 4.18 to 8.82] mmol/L; p < 0.001). Seven days after randomization, patients in the sodium bicarbonate and placebo group had a median of 132.2 (85.6-139.1) and 97.1 (69.3-132.4) hours alive and free of vasopressor, respectively (median difference, 35.07 [95% CI, -9.14 to 79.28]; p = 0.131).

Sodium Bicarbonate for Metabolic Acidosis in the ICU: Results of a Pilot Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial. · Crit Care Med 2023
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studystudy with random allocation to groups (RCT)

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

Perspectives and opinion materials

The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Nowadays, we simply make livestock sodium bicarbonate continuously available to the cows so they can adjust their rumen pH if needed. Case 4: Various illness in hogs We raise Berkshire hogs on our farm. We have raised hundreds of them and have had very few issues. Hogs with access to the outdoors, mud, grass, and nature, rarely get any illness. One winter, we had hogs root up some toxic plants (bracken fern) and the toxin in the sprouting fern ended up being fatal for a couple of the sows. There was no recovering them with vitamin C, as it was a bone marrow toxin.”Nowadays, we simply make livestock sodium bicarbonate continuously available to the cows so they can adjust their rumen pH if needed. Case 4: Various illness in hogs We raise Berkshire hogs on our farm. We have raised hundreds of them and have had very few issues. Hogs with access to the outdoors, mud, grass, and nature, rarely get any illness. One winter, we had hogs root up some toxic plants (bracken fern) and the toxin in the sprouting fern ended up being fatal for a couple of the sows. There was no recovering them with vitamin C, as it was a bone marrow toxin.
C is for Cattle: How high-dose ascorbate therapy works on the farm
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Aside from intravenous sodium ascorbate, the vast majority of research showing that vitamin C is effective in prevention and treatment of disease has used plain ascorbic acid. Yes, the cheap stuff. Remember what Ward Cleaver, TV father on "Leave it to Beaver," said to his young son: "A lot of people go through life trying to prove that the things that are good for them are wrong." (Andrew W.”Aside from intravenous sodium ascorbate, the vast majority of research showing that vitamin C is effective in prevention and treatment of disease has used plain ascorbic acid. Yes, the cheap stuff. Remember what Ward Cleaver, TV father on "Leave it to Beaver," said to his young son: "A lot of people go through life trying to prove that the things that are good for them are wrong." (Andrew W.
Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C: What's the Real Story?
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„I seized the opportunity and gave him an intravenous injection of 20 grams of sodium ascorbate. In 15 minutes, the rash cleared. I instructed him to take bowel tolerance doses of ascorbic acid and like a good physician, I prescribed him some Benadryl. The next day he returned and asked me why I had wasted his money on the Benadrl because the rash had never come back. I have treated many cases of hay fever and asthma. I have gotten many patients with asthma off steroids.”I seized the opportunity and gave him an intravenous injection of 20 grams of sodium ascorbate. In 15 minutes, the rash cleared. I instructed him to take bowel tolerance doses of ascorbic acid and like a good physician, I prescribed him some Benadryl. The next day he returned and asked me why I had wasted his money on the Benadrl because the rash had never come back. I have treated many cases of hay fever and asthma. I have gotten many patients with asthma off steroids.
Vitamin C for Asthma and Allergies: The high-dose protocol of Robert F. Cathcart III, MD

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