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  • Writer's pictureRobert O Young DSc, PhD, Naturopathic Practitioner

Low Levels of Sodium Bicarbonate in Blood and Interstitial fluids Increases the Risk of Death!

Updated: Jun 24, 2020


Lower than normal levels of sodium and potassium bicarbonate in the blood, interstitial fluids of the Interstitium and the intracellular fluids increases the risk of death by 24%.

Research published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that having sufficient levels of sodium bicarbonate, or bicarbonate in your body fluids can reduce your chances of an early death! Maintaining bicarbonates greater than 24 mEq/L of the blood and interstitial fluids may increase the quality of life while increasing life expectancy 20 years or more according to the research and findings of Dr. Robert O. Young[1]


The study examined data compiled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study for 2,287 participants.


Participants were healthy adults who, at the onset of the study, were between the ages of 70 and 79, and were followed for approximately 10 years. Survival data were gathered through February, 2014.

Raphael and colleagues found that low levels of sodium bicarbonate can be linked to an increased risk for premature death by 24 percent. Sodium bicarbonate is the main buffer for metabolic, dietary, environmental and respiratory acidic waste. Managing and maintaining the delicate pH balance of the intravascular and interstitial fluids of the Interstitium with sodium and potassium bicarbonate may extend life expectancy by up to 20 years or more!


“What we found was that healthy older people with low levels of sodium bicarbonate had a higher risk of death,” Raphael said. The study’s findings can assist clinicians in better assessing a patient’s risk of premature death by analyzing their blood and interstitial fluid bicarbonate concentrations more closely and by taking the pH Miracle pHour Salts!


Abstract


Background and objectives Low serum bicarbonate associates with mortality in CKD. This study investigated the associations of bicarbonate and acid-base status with mortality in healthy older individuals.


Design, setting, participants, & measurements


We analyzed data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study, a prospective study of well functioning black and white adults ages 70–79 years old from 1997. Participants with arterialized venous blood gas measurements (n=2287) were grouped into <23.0 mEq/L (low), 23.0–27.9 mEq/L (reference group), and ≥28.0 mEq/L (high) bicarbonate categories and according to acid-base status. Survival data were collected through February of 2014. Mortality hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]) in the low and high bicarbonate groups compared with the reference group were determined using Cox models adjusted for demographics, eGFR, albuminuria, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoking, and systemic pH. Similarly adjusted Cox models were performed according to acid-base status.


Results


The mean age was 76 years, 51% were women, and 38% were black. Mean pH was 7.41, mean bicarbonate was 25.1 mEq/L, 11% had low bicarbonate, and 10% had high bicarbonate. Mean eGFR was 82.1 ml/min per 1.73 m2, and 12% had CKD. Over a mean follow-up of 10.3 years, 1326 (58%) participants died. Compared with the reference group, the mortality HRs were 1.24 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.49) in the low bicarbonate and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.84 to 1.26) in the high bicarbonate categories. Compared with the normal acid-base group, the mortality HRs were 1.17 (95% CI, 0.94 to 1.47) for metabolic acidosis, 1.21 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.46) for respiratory alkalosis, and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.69) for metabolic alkalosis categories. Respiratory acidosis did not associate with mortality.


Conclusions


In generally healthy older individuals, low serum bicarbonate was associated with higher mortality..


What does this mean for me?


The answer is simple: living longer and living better!



How do you get more alkalinity in the form of sodium and potassium bicarbonate?


Surprisingly, the answer has everything to do with increasing your pH or alkalinity with sodium and potassium bicarbonate called pHour salts. In addition, you will want to increase your urine pH levels up to 7.8 to 8.4 by getting more sodium and potassium bicarbonate in your diet by eating more fruit and vegetables.


Alkaline Fruit and vegetables high in sodium and potassium bicarbonate will have a negative potential renal acid load (PRAL) score. This represents the amount of acid produced by the kidneys after metabolism. The higher the negative, the more sodium, potassium and bicarbonate they will provide, potentially reducing your risk of premature death, according to the study. Avocados, cucumbers, spinach, celery, grasses, green peppers, tomatoes, garlic, onions, broccoli, lemons, limes and even alkaline water at a pH of 9.5 to 11 are a few sources that will boost your sodium, potassium and bicarbonate levels. [See lists of alkaline foods to eat freely and acidic foods to eliminate]

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