Diet and nutritionDoes an acidifying diet steal calcium from our bones?
Sources: 9 · Article: 10 552 characters
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp claims that chronic acidosis can lead to the loss of mineral salts from bones.
- According to him, bicarbonates promote the movement of calcium salts into the bone matrix.
- M. Williamson, N. Moustaid-Moussa, and L. Gollahon report that the modern Western diet may disrupt pH balance through a high intake of acids from external sources.
- They also identify excessive calcium excretion and metabolic acidosis as common features associated with the development of metabolic diseases, and say that reducing or neutralizing the diet’s acid load is intended to inhibit bone loss.
What the authors write
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp
During acidosis, mineral salts may flow out of the bones, while bicarbonate stores promote the incorporation of calcium salts into them.
„The author’s personal clinical and scientific experience suggests that, during acidosis, the homeostasis of the bone-collagen matrix shifts towards increased bone breakdown (= catabolism) as mineral salts flow out of the bone, while well-filled bicarbonate reserves promote the bone’s mineral salt content by incorporating calcium salts into the bone matrix (= anabolism) and may therefore prevent osteoporosis.”Persönliche klinische und wissenschaftliche Erfahrungen des Autors, weisen darauf hin, dass bei Azidose die Homöostase der Knochen-Kollagen-Matrix durch den Ausstrom der Mineralsalze aus dem Knochen in Richtung eines erhöhten Knochen-Abbaus verschoben wird (= Katabolie), während gut gefüllte Bikarbonat-Reserven den Knochenmineralsalzbestand durch den Einbau von Calcium-Salzen in die Knochengrundsubstanz begünstigen (=Anabolie) und daher eine Osteoporose verhindern können.
Prof. Klaus F. Kopp
Chronic acidosis may lead to the loss of mineral salts from bones, while bicarbonates are thought to promote the movement of calcium salts into the bone matrix.
„The author’s personal clinical and scientific experience suggests that chronic acidosis shifts the homeostasis of the bone-cartilage system towards catabolism, with the loss of mineral salts from the bone. Bicarbonate supplementation sufficient to completely fill the body’s stores creates anabolism, with an influx of calcium salts into the bone matrix, and thereby prevents osteoporosis.”Personal clinical and scientific experiences of the author suggest that chronic acidosis leads to a change in the homeostasis of the bone-cartilage system towards catabolism with loss of mineral-salts from the bone. Supplementation of bicarbonate, sufficient to completely fill the body stores creates anabolism with an influx of Calcium-salts into the bone-matrix and thereby will prevent osteoporosis.
M. Williamson i N. Moustaid-Moussa i L. Gollahon
Reducing or neutralizing the diet’s acid load is intended to inhibit bone loss.
„Physiological evidence supporting a shift towards an alkaline diet shows that bone resorption, muscle atrophy, and excess cortisol secretion are inhibited by reducing or neutralizing the dietary load (), alkalinizing the tumor microenvironment enhances the tumor’s response to chemotherapy (), and higher plasma bicarbonate levels are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes ().”Physiological evidence supporting an alkaline shift in the diet is shown by: bone reabsorption, muscle atrophy, and excess cortisol secretion is inhibited by reducing or neutralizing dietary load (), alkalinizing the tumor microenvironment enhances tumor response to chemotherapy (), and higher levels of plasma bicarbonate is associated with lower risk for type 2 diabetes ().
M. Williamson i N. Moustaid-Moussa i L. Gollahon
Excessive calcium excretion and metabolic acidosis are listed as common features associated with the development of metabolic diseases.
„Oxidative stress, excess calcium excretion, inflammation, and metabolic acidosis are common features in the origins of most metabolic diseases. These primary manifestations of “metabolic syndrome” can lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.”Oxidative stress, excess calcium excretion, inflammation, and metabolic acidosis are common features in the origins of most metabolic disease. These primary manifestations of “metabolic syndrome” can lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
M. Williamson i N. Moustaid-Moussa i L. Gollahon
The modern Western diet may disrupt pH balance through a high intake of acids from external sources.
„Dietary analysis shows that a modern “Western-style” diet may disrupt pH homeostasis and drive disease progression through a high consumption of exogenous acids. Because many physiological and cellular functions rely on acid-base reactions and pH equilibrium, prolonged exposure to more acids than the body can effectively buffer, due to a long-term poor diet, may cause metabolic stress followed by disease.”Dietary analysis shows that a modern “Western-style” diet may facilitate a disruption in pH homeostasis and drive disease progression through high consumption of exogenous acids. Because so many physiological and cellular functions rely on acid-base reactions and pH equilibrium, prolonged exposure of the body to more acids than can effectively be buffered, by chronic adherence to poor diet, may result in metabolic stress followed by disease.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 3 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: 10.
The review found no evidence that greater acid excretion causes calcium loss from the body as a whole.
Aim of the study: Modern diets have been suggested to increase systemic acid load and net acid excretion. In response, alkaline diets and products are marketed to avoid or counteract this acid and help the body regulate its pH to prevent and cure disease. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate causal relationships between dietary acid load and osteoporosis using Hill’s criteria.
Results: Fifty-five of 238 studies met the inclusion criteria: 22 randomized interventions, 2 meta-analyses, and 11 prospective observational studies of bone health outcomes, including urine calcium excretion, calcium balance or retention, changes in bone mineral density, or fractures, among healthy adults whose acid and/or alkaline intakes were manipulated or observed through foods or supplements; and 19 in vitro cell studies that examined the hypothesized mechanism. Urine calcium excretion rates were consistent with osteoporosis development; however, calcium balance studies did not demonstrate loss of whole-body calcium with higher net acid excretion. Several weaknesses in the acid-ash hypothesis were identified: no intervention studies provided direct evidence of osteoporosis progression (fragility fractures or bone strength measured using biopsy).
Money for the studyuniversity or foundation · University of Calgary, Alberta Heritage Fund for Medical Research
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studycombined analysis of many studies (meta-analysis)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
The meta-analysis found no evidence that a higher dietary acid load leads to calcium loss from the body.
Aim of the study: The acid-ash hypothesis proposes that protein and grain foods, combined with low potassium intake, produce a dietary acid load and net acid excretion (NAE), increase urine calcium, and release calcium from the skeleton, leading to osteoporosis.
Results: In conclusion, this meta-analysis does not support the idea that calciuria associated with higher NAE reflects a net loss of whole-body calcium. There is no evidence from higher-quality balance studies that increasing the dietary acid load promotes skeletal bone mineral loss or osteoporosis. Changes in urine calcium do not accurately represent calcium balance. Promoting the “alkaline diet” to prevent calcium loss is not justified.
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.
The review indicates that acid excretion has no significant effect on calcium metabolism.
Aim of the study: Recently, the popular press has claimed a hypothetical association between dairy product consumption, the generation of dietary acid, and harm to human health. This theoretical association is based on the idea that the protein and phosphate in milk and dairy products make them acid-producing foods, which cause our bodies to become acidic and promote diseases of modern civilization.
Results: Alkaline diets alter urine pH but do not change systemic pH. Net acid excretion does not have an important effect on calcium metabolism. Milk is not acid-producing. Dietary phosphate does not negatively affect calcium metabolism, contrary to the acid-ash hypothesis.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studydiscussion of other studies
“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
„Cellular Calcium Excess Underlies Disease. The dairy industry’s marketing efforts over the years have been wildly successful in convincing the public, as well as most doctors, that a high dietary calcium intake (especially from dairy products) and, by extension, supplementation, clearly benefit general health and healthy bones. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true: excess calcium intake is the primary fuel that sustains and even provokes heart disease, cancer, and all chronic degenerative diseases.”Cellular Calcium Excess Underlies Disease The marketing efforts of the dairy industry over the years have been wildly successful in convincing the public as well as most doctors that high calcium intake by diet (especially dairy), and by extension, supplementation as well, is of clear benefit to general health and for healthy bones as well. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true, and excess calcium intake is the primary fuel sustaining and even provoking heart disease, cancer, and all chronic degenerative diseases.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Acid Balance in the Body. Does taking large quantities of an acid, even a weak acid like ascorbate, tip the body’s acid balance (pH) and cause health problems? No, because the body actively and constantly controls the pH of the bloodstream. Over a long period—hours to days—the kidneys regulate acid in the body by selectively excreting acidic or basic components in urine. Over a shorter period—minutes to hours—if the blood is too acidic, the autonomic nervous system increases the breathing rate, thereby removing more carbon dioxide from the blood and reducing its acidity. Some foods can indirectly cause acidity.”Acid Balance in the Body Does taking large quantities of an acid, even a weak acid like ascorbate, tip the body's acid balance (pH) causing health problems? No, because the body actively and constantly controls the pH of the bloodstream. The kidneys regulate the acid in the body over a long time period, hours to days, by selectively excreting either acid or basic components in urine. Over a shorter time period, minutes to hours, if the blood is too acid, the autonomic nervous system increases the rate of breathing, thereby removing more carbon dioxide from the blood, reducing its acidity. Some foods can indirectly cause acidity.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2016) Oral Iron for Anemia: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Jan 6, 2016. Bumrungpert A, Pavadhgul P, Piromsawasdi T, Mozafari MR (2022) Efficacy and Safety of Ferrous Bisglycinate and Folinic Acid in the Control of Iron Deficiency in Pregnant Women: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 14:452. Arthur JR, McKenzie RC, Beckett GJ (2003) Selenium in the immune system. J.”Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (2016) Oral Iron for Anemia: A Review of the Clinical Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and Guidelines. Ottawa (ON) Candian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. Jan 6, 2016. Bumrungpert A, Pavadhgul P, Piromsawasdi T, Mozafari MR (2022) Efficacy and Safety of Ferrous Bisglycinate and Folinic Acid in the Control of Iron Deficiency in Pregnant Women: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 14:452. Arthur JR, McKenzie RC, Beckett GJ (2003) Selenium in the immune system. J.
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