Dubey AK, et al. - In this single-centre, open-label, randomized, prospective parallel-group study, researchers evaluated the impact of metabolic acidosis (MA) correction on body composition and kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 and 4, with venous bicarbonate levels <22 mEq/L. These patients were randomized to the intervention arm (standard care as per Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 guidelines along with oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation to maintain venous bicarbonate levels at 24–26 mEq/L), whereas the control group received standard care alone. After 6 months, both groups were compared with respect to mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), lean body mass (LBM) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In patients with CKD stages 3 and 4, preserved LBM and kidney function were reported in relation to alkali supplementation to increase venous bicarbonate levels to 24–26 mEq/L.