Estimated Net Endogenous Acid Production and Serum... : Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (original) (raw)

Original Articles: Original Articles

Estimated Net Endogenous Acid Production and Serum Bicarbonate in African Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease

Scialla, Julia J.*; Appel, Lawrence J.*,†,‡; Astor, Brad C.*,†,‡; Miller, Edgar R. III*,†,‡; Beddhu, Srinivasan§; Woodward, Mark‡,‖; Parekh, Rulan S.*,†,¶; Anderson, Cheryl A.M.*,†,‡

Departments of *Medicine and

†Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland;

‡Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland;

§Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah;

‖The George Institute for Global Health, Camperdown, Australia; and

¶Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: Dr. Julia J. Scialla, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 301 Mason F. Lord Drive, Suite 2500, Baltimore, MD 21224. Phone: 410-550-2820; Fax: 410-550-7950; E-mail: [email protected]

Received January 6, 2011

Accepted March 23, 2011

Abstract

Background and objectives

Metabolic acidosis may contribute to morbidity and disease progression in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The ratio of dietary protein, the major source of nonvolatile acid, to dietary potassium, which is naturally bound to alkali precursors, can be used to estimate net endogenous acid production (NEAP). We tested the association between estimated NEAP and serum bicarbonate in patients with CKD.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

NEAP was estimated among 462 African American adults with hypertensive CKD using published equations: NEAP (mEq/d) = −10.2 + 54.5 (protein [g/d]/potassium [mEq/d]). Dietary protein and potassium intake were estimated from 24-hour urinary excretion of urea nitrogen and potassium, respectively. All of the eligible measurements during follow-up were modeled using generalized linear regression clustered by participant and adjusted for demographics, 24-hour urinary sodium, kidney function, and selected medications.

Results

Higher NEAP was associated with lower serum bicarbonate in a graded fashion (P trend < 0.001). Serum bicarbonate was 1.27 mEq/L lower among those in the highest compared with the lowest quartile of NEAP (P < 0.001). There was a greater difference in serum bicarbonate between the highest and lowest quartiles of NEAP among patients with stage 4/5 CKD (−2.43 mEq/L, P < 0.001) compared with those with stage 2/3 disease (−0.77 mEq/L, P = 0.01; P-interaction = 0.02).

Conclusions

Reducing NEAP, through reduction of dietary protein and increased intake of fruits and vegetables, may prevent metabolic acidosis in patients with CKD.