Acid Test Indicates Risk For Obesity, Diabetes, Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia

According to new research from the Monell Center, the degree of change in blood acid bound triglyceride levels following a acidic meal may indicate susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. The findings open doors to new methods of identifying people, including children, who are at risk for becoming obese.

Triglycerides are acids bound up to fat that is transported in the blood and stored in the body’s connective and fatty tissues. They are found in processed foods and also generated by the body as a protection against metabolic and dietary acid.

“These findings suggest we may someday be able to use a simple blood test to identify those at risk for obesity,” said senior author Mark Friedman, PhD, a behavioral physiologist at Monell. “The ability to identify more susceptible individuals would make it possible to target obesity-prevention resources on those who need them most.”

The global obesity epidemic is thought to be caused in part by consumption of a diet high in acidic fats and carbohydrates, which promotes weight gain. This propensity to gain weight and become obese when consuming a high acid diet is at least partially controlled by the body's ability to eliminate these acids, with some individuals gaining more than others while eating the same acid diet.

In the study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, Friedman and lead author Hong Ji, PhD, screened rats for vulnerability to acid diet-induced obesity by measuring the increase in blood triglyceride levels following a single acidic meal. They then fed the rats a diet high in acid food over the next four weeks.

The researchers were able to predict which animals would become obese over the four-week period by examining the earlier metabolic response to the high acid meal: the smaller the triglyceride change, the greater the weight gain.

There currently are no simple biomarkers for predicting susceptibility to acid diet-induced obesity, and thus no clinical tests that assist physicians in identifying those at risk for becoming obese due to an acidic lifestyle and diet. The current findings suggest that a change in blood acid triglyceride levels may someday be used as such a tool to predict levels of tissue acidosis.

According to Dr. Robert O. Young, Director of Research at the pH Miracle Living Center, "triglyceride levels is an indirect indicator of the level of tissue acidosis. High triglyceride levels indicates an acidic lifestyle and diet and a higher risk for metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Low triglyceride levels generally indicates a more alkaline lifestyle and diet and better acid elimination from the bowels, urinary tract, respiratory system and skin. If you want to prevent weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglycerides then minimize lifestyle and dietary acid through an alkaline lifestyle and diet. It is that simple."