A Simple Step to Prevent Osteoporosis?

Our modern diet is quite acidic, due to the predominance of dairy products, grains, and meats, according to Dr Krapf of Basel, Switzerland. Normally, the kidneys and the lungs keep the acid-base balance in the body constant, but if the kidneys are unable to remove excess an acid load, there may be slightly increased acidity of the blood. Taking a base dietary supplement (e.g. potassium citrate) reduces the acidity of body fluids, as shown by reduced urine acidity.

One of the effects of decreased acidity is a reduction in calcium excretion. The possible benefits of this were tested in 160 postmenopausal women with low bone mass density, i.e. osteoporosis. They were given either 30 milliequivalents (mEq) of potassium citrate as tablets or 30 mEq of potassium chloride; the latter provided the same amount of potassium, but no ‘base’. After 1 year on this regimen the women taking the base supplement had a significant 1% increase in the bone mineral density of their lumbar spine vertebrae, while those taking the non-base potassium chloride had a 1% decrease. This size of treatment response is within the range of increases produced by FDA-approved medicines like Fosamax® or Actonel ®.

Of course, you may be able to achieve the same result by eating almost exclusively fruits and vegetables, like our prehistoric ancestors. But maybe potassium citrate tablets would be an easier approach. However, before taking this step (or giving up your Fosamax®), you might do best to wait for some well-conducted clinical studies that will measure fracture rates in volunteers taking the acid-reducing supplement.