Effect of Dried Fruit Intake on Acid-base Balance in Community Dwelling Adults

Most adults consume acid-producing diets because their intake of protein and/or cereal grains is high in relation to their intake of fruits and vegetables. Supplementation with alkaline salts such as potassium bicarbonate and potassium citrate have been shown to reduce 24-hr urinary net acid excretion (NAE) in healthy adults. This approach requires taking many capsules daily, in split doses after each meal with a full glass of water. An alternative and perhaps more acceptable approach to achieving acid-base balance for most adults may be to modify their diet by increasing intake of alkali-producing foods, such as fruit. Maintaining acid base balance may be important for preserving bone and muscle and renal function and other outcomes but this has not been established. The investigators propose to determine whether adults who are provided with 100 g per day of a selection of dried fruits will actually consume enough of it to correct their acid-producing diets, as evidenced by a lowering of their urinary NAE. The investigators will also determine whether and how participants will alter their overall diets or their body weight when provided with the dried fruit. The comparator group will receive no dried fruit (or other intervention).