title: Higher estimates of daily dietary net endogenous acid production (NEAP) in the elderly as compared to the young in a healthy, free-living elderly population of Pakistan.
abstract: Dietary intake has been shown to influence the acid-base balance in human subjects; however, this phenomenon is poorly understood and rarely reported for the least well-studied segment of older people in a developing country. The aims of the present study were to: (1) quantify estimates of daily net endogenous acid production (NEAP) (mEq/d) in a sample of otherwise healthy elderly aged 50 years and above; and (2) compare NEAP between the elderly and young to determine the effects of aging, which could contribute to changes in the acid-base balance. Analyses were carried out among 526 elderly and 131 young participants (aged 50-80 and 23-28 years, respectively), all of whom were free of discernible disease, nonsmokers, and not on any chronic medication. Selected anthropometric factors were measured and 24-hour dietary recall was recorded. We used two measures to characterize dietary acid load: (1) NEAP estimated as the dietary potential renal acid load plus organic acid excretion, the latter as a multiple of estimated body surface area; and (2) estimated NEAP based on protein and K. For the young and elderly, the ranges of NEAP were 12.1-67.8 mEq/d and 2.0-78.3 mEq/d, respectively. Regardless of the method used, the mean dietary acid-base balance (NEAP) was significantly higher for the elderly than the young (P = 0.0035 for NEAP [elderly, 44.1 mEq/d versus young 40.1 mEq/d]; and P = 0.0035 for the protein:potassium ratio [elderly, 1.4 mEq/d versus young 1.1 mEq/d]). A positive and significant correlation was found between NEAP and energy, protein, and phosphorus (P < 0.05 for all trends). The findings from this study provide evidence of the relatively higher production of NEAP in older people, possibly as an effect of higher consumption of certain acid-producing foods by the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. iftikharalam@aup.edu.pk
authors.forename: Iftikhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Ibrar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Parvez I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Paracha
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000143:Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012111:Residence Characteristics
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D008274:Magnesium