title: Diet-dependent net endogenous acid load of vegan diets in relation to food groups and bone health-related nutrients: results from the German Vegan Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dietary composition has been shown to affect acid-base homeostasis and bone health in humans. We investigated the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and the estimated diet-dependent net acid load (net endogenous acid production, NEAP) in adult vegans and evaluated the relationships between NEAP, food groups and intake of bone health-related nutrients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The German Vegan Study (GVS) is a cross-sectional study. Data from healthy men (n = 67) and women (n = 87), aged 21-75 years, who fulfilled the study criteria (vegan diet for ≥1 year prior to study start; age ≥18 years, and no pregnancy/childbirth during the last 12 months) were included in the analysis. NEAP values were calculated from diet composition using two models: one based on the protein/potassium quotient and another taking into account an anthropometry-based loss of urinary organic anions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean daily intakes of phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium and vitamin C were above, and vitamin D and calcium below Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). Regardless of the model used, the diet in the GVS was characterized by a nearly neutral NEAP. A strong correlation was observed between the NEAP values of the two models (r(s) = 0.873, p < 0.001). Only the consumption of fruits decreased constantly across the increasing quartiles of NEAP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be hypothesized that vegan diets do not affect acid-base homeostasis. With respect to bone health, the significance of this finding needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Physiology and Human Nutrition Unit, Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany. stroehle@nutrition.uni-hannover.de
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ströhle
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koschizke
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leitzmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D001205:Ascorbic Acid