The Claim
Among healthy adults aged 30–60 with moderate protein intake, vegan diets are associated with significantly lower urinary potential renal acid load (uPRAL) by an average of 34.5 mEq/24 h and higher urine pH compared to omnivorous diets, but no association exists between this alkaline shift and calcaneal bone ultrasound measurements.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In healthy adults aged 30–60 with moderate protein intake, vegan diets result in lower urinary acid load and higher urine pH than omnivorous diets, but these changes are not linked to differences in bone health as measured by calcaneal ultrasound.
See the scientific wording
Among healthy adults aged 30–60 with moderate protein intake, vegans exhibit significantly lower urinary potential renal acid load (uPRAL) by an average of 34.5 mEq/24 h and higher urine pH compared to omnivores, yet no association was found between this alkaline shift and calcaneal bone ultrasound measurements, suggesting that within this low-acid-load range, dietary acid-base balance does not meaningfully influence bone health.
Eating mostly plants lowers the amount of acid the kidneys must remove from the blood, making urine less acidic and more alkaline. This change does not affect the strength or density of bones in the heel.
What the research says
1 studyVegans have less acidic urine than meat-eaters, but their heel bones aren't stronger — and the acidity of their diet doesn't explain why. So, this difference in urine doesn't affect bone strength.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.