An Acidic Diet Contributes to Insulin Resistance

A study investigated the relationship between diet-induced acid-base imbalance and insulin resistance in middle-aged and older Korean adults. A total of 5,406 participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were included, and potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) scores were calculated based on their usual dietary intake. During a mean follow-up period of 7.4 years, 3,449 cases of insulin resistance were documented.

The results showed that participants with higher PRAL and NEAP scores had a significantly higher risk of developing insulin resistance. The risk was slightly more pronounced among men, adults under 50 years old, obese participants, or those with low physical activity levels. Participants with more alkaline diets consumed more dietary fiber, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products than those with acidic diets. Consuming vegetables, fruits, and dietary fiber has been previously linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion, the study found that diet-induced metabolic acidosis is associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance, regardless of other type 2 diabetes risk factors.

Optimal Takeaways

• Diet-induced acid-base imbalance may increase the risk of insulin resistance in middle-aged and older adults.
• High dietary acid load scores were significantly associated with lower intakes of total energy, carbohydrate, plant protein, dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, and magnesium and higher intakes of total fat, total protein, animal protein, and phosphorus.
• Diets contributing to high acid load were characterized by higher consumption of grains/grain products, meat, fish/shellfish, and soft drinks and lower consumption of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products
• Consuming a balanced diet rich in alkaline-forming foods, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, and dietary fiber, may help reduce the risk of insulin resistance.

Reference

Lee, Kyung Won, and Dayeon Shin. “Positive association between dietary acid load and future insulin resistance risk: findings from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.” Nutrition journal vol. 19,1 137. 8 Dec. 2020, doi:10.1186/s12937-020-00653-6  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,