Published online Feb 15, 2015. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v6.i1.125
Peer-review started: August 28, 2014
First decision: November 3, 2014
Revised: November 12, 2014
Accepted: November 27, 2014
Article in press: December 1, 2014
Published online: February 15, 2015
The pH of body fluids is one the most important key factors regulating various cell function such as enzyme activity and protein-protein interaction via modification of its binding affinity. Therefore, to keep cell function normal, the pH of body fluids is maintained constant by various systems. Insulin resistance is one of the most important, serious factors making the body condition worse in diabetes mellitus. I have recently found that the pH of body (interstitial) fluids is lower in diabetes mellitus than that in non-diabetic control, and that the lowered pH is one of the causes producing insulin resistance. In this review article, I introduce importance of body (interstitial) fluid pH in regulation of body function, evidence on abnormal regulation of body fluid pH in diabetes mellitus, and relationship between the body fluid pH and insulin resistance. Further, this review proposes perspective therapies on the basis of regulation of body fluid pH including propolis (honeybee product) diet.
Core tip: This review article provides new findings on changes of body (interstitial) fluid pH in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the role of body (interstitial) fluid pH in occurrence of insulin resistance, and future possibility of treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus from a viewpoint of improvement of body (interstitial) fluid pH.