Can glucose combine with sodium bicarbonate?

[marcophys]

I fell upon an article outlining the general health benefits of a balanced pH, and specific anti cancer benefits.
... both concepts are well supported in published studies.

The article then went on to describe a protocol, whereby sodium bicarbonate is dissolved in liquefied honey.
The principal being 'Trojan Horse':
The tumour would absorb the glucose, and in so doing, would absorb the sodium bicarbonate (a la DMSO + Gemcitabine).

Only that honey is not DMSO.
My thoughts were, that the glucose and sodium bicarbonate, once ingested, would go about their natural business seperately, as if they had never been mixed.

Perhaps this can readily be determined by the chemistry of the two substances?

 

[Borek]

I fell upon an article outlining the general health benefits of a balanced pH

Balanced pH of what?

well supported in published studies

I would love to see them listed.

 

[marcophys]

Here's one that might be worth a read.
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/76/6/1381

There are a number, but I've closed everything down ... time for zzzzz.

I didn't spend any time studying the details.
Primarily, I was looking for general published support for the assertion.
... it was a damned digression actually.
You know ... when you are researching something else, but end up getting side tracked

So the initial assertion seemed well supported, but the concept of dissolving sodium bicarbonate in honey just didn't ring true.
I could have left it there, but I thought it might make a good question.
I had a feeling that you might jump in

 

[Borek]

The very idea of changing intracellular pH with administration of bicarbonate sounds off to me. Bicarbonate has to be transported to the cells by blood, blood has a very precisely buffered pH and even small acidification leads to hyperventilation.

 

[marcophys]

Yes; but the buffering is not inherently stable - probably from the age of 50 onwards (or whenever it becomes unstable).

Bicarbonate is produced by the kidneys as a buffer against excess acidity in the blood, and is capable of performing this task until the kidneys decline in function (and then a mild case of metabolic acidosis, or excess acidity that is nonlethal, ensues)
https://examine.com/supplements/sodium-bicarbonate/ (1.2. Biosynthesis and Regulation)​

Do understand ... I don't rate myself as being fully up to speed on this subject.
However, I am reasonably proficient at gaining a rapid overview, by resorting to credible published literature, and gaining the key points.
If I intend to delve deeper then a folder is allotted, and the bookmarks fill up.

In this case, it quickly became apparent that acidosis is, or can be, a fact of life.
... and that ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (or restriction), does impact blood pH.

In terms of tumours ... current thinking is that they prefer a more acidic environment, and that a balanced pH is less to their liking.
From this, for people of a certain age, there may be reason to consider supplementing sodium bicarbonate production.
... particularly in instances where tumours and cancer cells are present.

Certainly, for anyone in this group, there is enough evidence to carry out further investigation.

From a general 'chemical productivity' perspective - there is no serious dispute over the assertion that our productivity drops (pretty much across the board) with age.
... and that 'chemical importation' is a valid strategy for maintaining a healthy system.

There is also a continually growing body of evidence, that boosting certain naturally produced (or normally ingested) elements, can have a positive impact on health.
(RDA +).

Within the practicing medical profession, as a general principal ... this is understood.
A fact that is easily confirmed, by asking for their opinion.

The problem they have, is that there is a lack of 'protocols' ... and either way 'this is not their field of study'.
Consequently, their opinion is positive, but no more than that.
At best, a statement of 'no contraindications' will be forthcoming (if such is the case).
... but my guess is that such conversations are rarely (or never) initiated by the medical practitioner.

Hand over a list ... it will be (should be) looked over, and handed back with positive mumblings.
IE. Not kept on file.

I quickly learned that it is entirely unfair to expect them to become involved, when their hospital services don't include a specialist that they can refer you to.

Think of it like an official car dealer - they repair the car according to their protocols.
You can modify your car, if you want, and improve it.
... but if you don't know what you are doing, you can create other problems.
Eg. An increase in sodium bicarbonate could cause a decrease in potassium.

increased sodium excretion further results in increased potassium excretion. As sodium is ingested via sodium bicarbonate but potassium is not, chronic and excessive usage of sodium bicarbonate supplementation is a potential risk factor for reducing serum potassium concentrations.
https://examine.com/supplements/sodium-bicarbonate/ (11.2. Cations Sodium and Potassium)​

Either way, there is clearly a lag between the medical research, and the growth in medical practitioners (in this field).
Fine if you are careful, and follow the credible advice that is available from the few specialists that do exist.
However, there is a great deal of information that is shoddily produced.

My belief was that the 'honey - sodium bicarbonate protocol' was false information.
------
Regarding published studies concerning this general subject - here is another that sprung up:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2736774/

 

[marcophys]

Following up on your request for a list of published studies, I have put together a short list.
I've pulled key statements from each, to provide a rapid overview to go with the titles.

The first four involve oral administration, and therefore directly pertinent to the question.
The fifth involves subcutaneous injections, but as it deals with Cisplatin, it is probably a 'must read', particularly as the use of Vitamin C is an alternative to sodium bicarbonate (Liposomal Vitamin C immediately springs to mind).
The sixth is a hefty review, but it could be your bag.

Anyway, I'm very glad that you suggested that I draw up this list, if only because it unearthed the Cisplatin implications - that one will be shared

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5139076/
Acidic tumor microenvironment abrogates the efficacy of mTORC1 inhibitors
Accordingly, therapeutic strategies that interfere with acid-base regulation have demonstrated anti-tumor activity in a variety of pre-clinical studies [6]. One of these strategies consists of oral administration of sodium bicarbonate in order to increase the intra-tumoral pH, resulting in an inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis formation in murine models [3, 7, 8]. Furthermore, sodium bicarbonate potentiates the efficacy of weak base chemotherapies such as doxorubicin presumably by enhancing drug uptake [5].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3722989/
Investigating Mechanisms of Alkalinization for Reducing Primary Breast Tumor Invasion
The extracellular pH (pHe) of many solid tumors is acidic as a result of glycolytic metabolism and poor perfusion. Acidity promotes invasion and enhances metastatic potential. Tumor acidity can be buffered by systemic administration of an alkaline agent such as sodium bicarbonate. Tumor-bearing mice maintained on sodium bicarbonate drinking water exhibit fewer metastases and survive longer than untreated controls.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5349894/
Acidic pH reduces VEGF-mediated endothelial cell responses by downregulation of VEGFR-2; relevance for anti-angiogenic therapies
In vivo, neutralizing tumor acidity with sodium bicarbonate increased the percentage of endothelial cells expressing VEGFR-2 in tumor xenografts. Furthermore, combining sodium bicarbonate with sunitinib provided stronger anti-cancer activity than either treatment alone.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3694604/
Systemic Buffers Inhibit Carcinogenesis in TRAMP Mice
In all 18 controls prostate cancer developed that was visible on 3-dimensional ultrasound at a mean age of 13 weeks. They died within 52 weeks (median 37). When sodium bicarbonate therapy commenced before age 6 weeks in 10 mice, all reached senescence (age 76 weeks) without radiographic evidence of prostate cancer. Histological sections of the prostates in this cohort showed hyperplasia but no cancer in 70% of mice and minimal well differentiated cancer in the remainder.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4247770/
Optimization of a cisplatin model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice: use of vitamin C and sodium bicarbonate pretreatments to reduce nephrotoxicity and improve animal health status
administration of sodium bicarbonate or vitamin C prior to cisplatin treatment has long lasting beneficial effects on general health of rodents.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768104/
The Divergence, Actions, Roles, and Relatives of Sodium-Coupled Bicarbonate Transporters
pH is one of the most important parameters for life. Virtually every biological process is sensitive to changes in pH, and some are exquisitely sensitive. Thus transporters have evolved to regulate pH in organelles, the cytosol, and the extracellular fluid. Not surprisingly, dysregulation of pH is associated with a wide array of pathologies (TABLE 1), including cancer, hypertension, reperfusion injury, amyloid deposition (e.g., in Alzheimer's disease), and aging.