Dietary acidity and bone mass in minority children and adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis from the MetA-Bone trial

Abstract

Summary

Dietary acid load could be associated with bone mass, but there are limited and conflicting results. This secondary cross-sectional analysis evaluated these associations among 123 children/adolescents, mostly Hispanics. Dietary acid load seems to be associated with bone mass in boys, but these results should be confirmed through long-term studies.

Background

Childhood/adolescence is key for developing strong bones. With the continuing rise in osteoporosis rates in Western societies, attention has turned to the possible impact of diets that create high levels of acid in the body. Some studies have shown an association between dietary acid load and bone mass, but there are limited studies in children/adolescents and none in Hispanics.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the associations between dietary acid load (assessed as dietary potential renal acid load, PRAL, and protein to potassium ratio) and whole-body bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) in a sample of 123 children and adolescents of predominantly Hispanic ethnicity.

Design

This study is a secondary cross-sectional analysis.

Results

Dietary PRAL was positively associated with BMC and BMD overall (p < 0.05) and with BMC in boys (p < 0.05) when adjusted for energy misreporting only. The vegetable protein to potassium ratio was inversely associated with BMC (p = 0.004) in boys only, after adjusting for important factors.

Conclusions

Dietary acid load seems to be associated with BMC in boys in this sample of primarily Hispanic children. Long-term studies are needed to confirm these results and to understand the importance of protein intake in relation to other key nutrients in bone mass acquisition among Hispanic boys.