A. Sebastian, S. T. Harris, J. Ottaway
Jun 23, 1994
Citations
20
Influential Citations
560
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
The New England journal of medicine
Abstract
Background In normal subjects, a low level of metabolic acidosis and positive acid balance (the production of more acid than is excreted) are typically present and correlate in degree with the amount of endogenous acid produced by the metabolism of foods in ordinary diets abundant in protein. Over a lifetime, the counteraction of retained endogenous acid by base mobilized from the skeleton may contribute to the decrease in bone mass that occurs normally with aging. Methods To test that possibility, we administered potassium bicarbonate to 18 postmenopausal women who were given a constant diet (652 mg [16 mmol] of calcium and 96 g of protein per 60 kg of body weight). The potassium bicarbonate was given orally for 18 days in doses (60 to 120 mmol per day) that nearly completely neutralized the endogenous acid. Results During the administration of potassium bicarbonate, the calcium and phosphorus balance became less negative or more positive -- that is, less was excreted in comparision with the amount inges...