Bone, Acid, and Osteoporosis

“Life is a struggle, not against sin, not against the Money Power, not against malicious animal magnetism, but against hydrogen ions”1. These words, written by H.L. Mencken about the meaning of life and death, may also apply to the struggle of the healthy skeleton against the deleterious effects of retained acid.Long-term acid loading in humans causes an increase in renal acid excretion that peaks in three to five days. The total increment in net acid excretion by the kidneys, however, is often lower than total acid production, resulting in a positive hydrogen-ion balance. The serum bicarbonate concentration falls . . .