title: Effect of a supplement rich in alkaline minerals on acid-base balance in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Western diets are considered acidogenic due to the high dietary acid load and a low intake of base-forming dietary minerals such as potassium, magnesium or calcium. In the present study we investigated the effect of a multimineral supplement (MMS) rich in alkaline minerals on acute and chronic regulation of acid-base balance with the pH of blood, urine and saliva as potential surrogate markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parameters were measured (i) without MMS intake, (ii) in the three consecutive hours following ingestion (blood and urinary pH) and (iii) during one week with or without MMS intake (self-monitored using pH measurement strips).
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 (15 female; 10 male) subjects (age 44 +/- 14 y; BMI 23.9 +/- 1.9 kg/m2) were enrolled in the investigation. Following acute administration of the MMS in the morning, blood ph (1 and 2 h after ingestion) rose from 7.40 to 7.41; p < 0.05, and also urinary pH 3 h after ingestion (5.94 to 6.57; p < 0.05) increased significantly. Following longer-term supplementation, both the increase in urinary pH in the morning and in the evening occurred within 1 day. Compared to pH values without the MMS, average pH in urine was 11% higher in the morning and 5% higher in the evening. Analyses of food records showed that the increase in urinary pH was not related to dietary change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the ingestion of a multimineral supplement is associated with both a significant increase in blood and urinary pH. The health related consequences of this supplementation remain to be determined.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Freiburg, Centre for Internal Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation, Prevention and Sports Medicine, Germany. daniel.koenig@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muser
authors.forename: Hans-Hermann
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Dickhuth
authors.forename: Aloys
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deibert
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001769:Blood; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D008903:Minerals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide