Potential renal acid load in the diet and the growth rate of children aged 6 months to 11 years

Abstract

When acid precursor foods predominate over alkaline foods, dietary acid load increases with unfavorable consequences for growth in children. Objective: To demonstrate the relationship between dietary acid load and growth velocity in children from 6 months to 11 years of age. Methods: Weight and height/length for age and growth velocity (GV) of weight and height/length were calculated. Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) was estimated by means of a consumption frequency questionnaire and the method by Remer and Manz. These parameters were evaluated in 58 patients in a first consultation when recommendations were given to reduce dietary acid load. A second evaluation was performed in a second consultation 3 to 18 months later. Results: PRAL decreased significantly between the two consultations (p< 0.0001), which was not the case for the energy content of the diet. Fifteen of 21 patients improved or normalized their GV, while it decreased in 6 of them. The correlation between PRAL and GV was negative in all cases. Conclusion: Dietary PRAL decreased significantly with the nutritional intervention. GV improved or normalized in 15 of 21 patients, despite the fact that there was a decrease in the mean for GV (cm/year) for the total sample and for the girls. The correlation between CAPR and VC was negative, although only significant for GV for weight in girls.