Higher dietary acid load tied to higher insulin resistance: Study

Brazil: A higher dietary acid load (DAL) is associated with higher insulin levels and insulin resistance (IR) but not with other glycemic parameters, reveals a recent study in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. Apparently, in this population, β-pancreatic cell function does not seem to be affected by DAL.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are the major reasons for death and health expenses worldwide. A higher DAL is shown to be associated with chronic low-grade metabolic acidosis and may increase the risk of DM, hypertension, IR, and CVD mortality. However, there is a lack of population-based studies determining the association between DAL and IR to confirm laboratory findings.

Against the above background, Everson A. Nunes, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil, and colleagues conducted a population-based observational study including a sample of 545 individuals aged 25–64 years from Florianópolis (Southern Brazil) who were participants of the EpiFloripa cohort study. 

Two 24-h Food Recalls were used to obtain all diet variables for getting an estimate of habitual food consumption. Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) and Net Endogenous Acid production (NEAP) was used to measure DAL. Fasting blood samples were obtained from all participants.