The Molecular Effects of Dietary Acid Load on Metabolic Disease (The Cellular PasaDoble: The Fast-Paced Dance of pH Regulation)

Abstract

Metabolic diseases are becoming more common and more severe in populations adhering to western lifestyle. Since metabolic conditions are highly diet and lifestyle dependent, it is suggested that certain diets are the cause for a wide range of metabolic dysfunctions. 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. Further complications of the conditions involve kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancers. 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. This review addresses relevant molecular pathways in mammalian cells discovered to be sensitive to acid - base equilibria, their cellular effects, and how they can cascade into an organism-level manifestation of Metabolic Syndromes. We will also discuss potential ways to help mitigate this digestive disruption of pH and metabolic homeostasis through dietary change.

Association between dietary acid load and the odds of ulcerative colitis: a case–control study

“…It is worthy of note that prolonged inflammatory state of the intestinal mucosa has been postulated to be one of the main factors in the pathogenesis of UC 52 , presenting another link between an animal-based regimen and the pathophysiology of the disease. In addition, studies have found that dietary acid load can also exert adverse metabolic effects by increasing blood levels of cortisol 19 ; on the same note, it has been observed that cortisol levels are higher in more severe cases of IBDs 53 . These observations propose additional justifications for the presumed association between PRAL and UC.…”

“…Evidence also suggests that following the Mediterranean dietary pattern is significantly related to improved clinical condition and reduction of inflammatory markers 14 , 16 , 17 . Furthermore, there exists abundant evidence that the individual’s dietary composition can affect the acid–base balance of the body 18 , 19 . For instance, it has been claimed that consumption of potassium and magnesium (provided mainly by the intake of fruits and vegetables) may be associated with a more alkaline environment in the human body.…”

Dietary Acid Load and Cancer Risk: A Review of the Uruguayan Experience

“…DAL is likely to contribute to tumor environment acidification and also increases free proton concentrations [ 94 ]. Many solid cancers by themselves generate lactic acid as a product of their upregulated fermentative glycolysis, which results in an acidification of the local tumor microenvironment [ 95 , 96 ].…”

The relationship between dietary acid load and intensity of musculoskeletal pain condition: A population‐based study

“…On the other hand consistent with this study, higher PRAL and NEAP scores may be to bone and muscle loss, which may elicit feelings of pain (Chan et al., 2015 ) through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) signaling (Hayhoe et al., 2020 ; Mohammadpour et al., 2020 ). Finally, higher secretion of cortisol and muscle loss may be another probable mechanism of following higher DAL diets (Williamson et al., 2021 ).…”