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The most common imbalance in the acid-base balance in the industrialized countries is mild chronic metabolic acidosis caused by the diet rich in the animal protein. Proteins are metabolized to organic acids. The typical American diet produces after metabolism approximately 100 meq of acid every day (Barzel 1995). This kind of a diet has been proved to cause aciduria and calciuria as a consequence of acidosis and thus a loss of total calcium of the body (Breslau et al. 1988, Schuette et al. 1980, Licata et al. 1981). Cola drinks that contain phosphoric acid are another acidosis-inducing ingredient of diet, especially among young people (Barzel 1995).

Acid-base balance has an effect on bone turnover, especially on the rates of bone resorption and calcium mobilization. Bone mineral participates in the defense against acid-base disturbances, especially against metabolic acidosis (Lemann et al. 1966, Green & Kleeman 1991). The role of the bone mineral is important in the acid-base disorders, as no appreciable change in the intestinal calcium absorption occurs (Bichara et al. 1990). In the mammalian body, mainly three hormones regulate the calcium metabolism and the bone turnover. 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (vitamin D derivative) increases calcium absorption from the intestine and, indirectly, from bone. Parathyroid hormone mobilizes calcium from the bone and increases the urinary phosphate excretion. Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption (Ganong 1981). Used as drugs, these hormones are also capable of inducing acid-base disorders. Calcitonin administration (Escanero et al. 1991) and vitamin D excess (Bichara et al. 1990) have been reported to cause metabolic alkalosis.