Western diet, high in protein-rich foods and poor in vegetables, is likely to be responsible for the development of a moderate acid excess leading to metabolism deregulation and the onset or worsening of chronic disturbances. Available findings seem to suggest that diets with high protein/vegetables ratio are likely to induce the development of calcium lithiasis, especially in predisposed subjects. Moreover, some evidence supports the hypothesis of bone metabolism worsening and enhanced bone loss following acid-genic diet consumption although available literature seems to lack direct and conclusive evidence demonstrating pathological bone loss. According to other evidences, diet-induced acidosis is likely to induce or accelerate muscle wasting or sarcopenia, especially among elderlies. Furthermore, recent epidemiological findings highlight a specific role of dietary acid load in glucose metabolism deregulation and insulin resistance. The aim of this review is to investigate the role of acid-genic diets in the development of the mentioned metabolic disorders focusing on the possible clinical improvements exerted by alkali supplementation.
Keywords: Acid–base; bone; high protein diets; metabolism; muscle; urinary stones; western diet.