Abstract
Objective: To evaluate, through the available scientific literature, the claims for use or not of diets classified as alkaline, their grounds and evidence. Methods: This is a literature review through which publications identified in the PubMed and Virtual Health Library databases were analyzed. The search was performed using the descriptors “alkaline diet”, “alkaline water”, “acid- base”,“ pH ”. Results: Several studies have suggested that an alkaline diet can prevent and treat various diseases and result in health benefits from bodily alkalinization. Studies related to alkaline diet and health claim or specific pathological conditions were selected. In addition to reading the scientific articles, research was conducted on books and related websites. Final considerations: There is no consensus for the application of alkaline diet in the studied situations and, therefore, the theory is not scientifically supported so far. Nonetheless, it is evident that the adoption of eating habits that provide a healthier eating pattern, with a higher supply of fiber and fresh foods and a lower intake of fat, sodium-rich processed foods and simple carbohydrates, has numerous benefits that cannot be achieved attributed only to the alkaline diet theory.