The Acid—Disease Connection

Like Frank, you may be needlessly suffering from headaches or some other ailment linked to an unbalanced pH. Let s take a look at some of the other health issues related to excess acid in our bodies. 

Now that we know these diseases, disorders, and conditions have been linked with acidity, and that drugs are not actually curing them, let s examine the role acidity plays in a handful of the more common health problems on the list. 

Here s an expanded list of the disorders that researchers are linking to acidity. This list is extensive, but probably not exhaustive. 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also Immune deficiencies 

Heart attacks Tooth decay and loss of teeth 

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Histochemical tests have often demonstrated changes in the mucopolysaccharides of connective tissues during the onset of certain diseases. However, in view of the unspecific nature of histochemical tests, in most cases a more definite assessment of the changes that have taken place is required. It seems appropriate, therefore, to review the structures of the acid mucopolysaccharides, many of which have been established within the last decade, and to indicate changes that have been observed in these substances in some diseases involving connective tissues. 

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, was discovered after scientists had searched for centuries for a cure for the disease known as scurvy. The name ascorbic acid comes from word anti-scurvy acid, because it was known to dramatically cure this disease. This disease was caused by a serious deficiency of vitamin C, and it caused its victim s small blood vessels to rupture, bones to weaken, and joints to swell, among other symptoms. These symptoms were due to the fact that without a source of vitamin C one developed severe problems concerning the body s connective tissues, which is found in bones, skin, muscles, teeth, blood vessels, and cartilage. This disease would eventually lead to death if it went untreated, and was not uncommon, especially during the winter months of the year. The disease often plagues armies, explorers, and crusaders, since these men s diets normally consisted of biscuits and salted meat that could easily be stored and kept unspoiled on a ship. 

Ascorbic Acid Deficiency. Scurvy is the classical disease associated with ascorbate deficiency. It is a disease of the connective tissue and probably is caused by inadequate crosslinking attributed to a lack of hydroxy-lated proline and lysine. Many consider scurvy to be an advanced stage of ascorbate deficiency. Chronic deficiencies may also (l)in-crease risk for malignancies, as evidenced by oxidized DNA markers and increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (2) decreased immune function, as evidenced by less vitamin in neutrophils and lymphocytes (3) cardiovascular disease caused by the inflammatory response on the blood vessel walls and (4) cataract formation caused by decreased concentrations of ascorbate in the ocular tissues. 

The sequence of amino acids determines the primary structure of a protein. Changing just a single amino acid in a critical position of the protein can significantly alter its activity and function and be the cause of disease and disorders. The amino acids are connected to each other in a head-to-tail fashion by formation of a peptide bond (Fig. 1.11), the condensation of a carboxylic and an amino group with the elimination of water. 

The clinical manifestations of gout, i.e. articular and renal disease, are intimately connected with hyperuricemia and/or particularities of renal handling of uric acid. It is well established that normalization of plasma uric levels will cure the joint disease. The diminution of renal uric acid excretion by administration of allopurinol will cure nephrolithiasis in its uncomplicated forms. One may presume that the other manifestations of the gouty kidney (i.e. parenchymal renal disease, hypertension and azotemia) will also be influenced by a therapy reducing urinary uric acid however no reliable reports exist as yet on this point. 

Amyloid is a substance of uncertain composition (111) sometimes found in diseased connective tissues. The name is derived from its resemblance to starch in turning blue when exposed to iodine and dilute sulfuric acid. This method of staining is so poor that it is now seldom used. A... 

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