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Urine pH

This is a simple test to assess systemic acidity or alkalinity.

A vegetarian diet can make the urine too alkaline, making one prone to urinary tract infections.

Urine pH is used to classify urine as either acid or alkaline (base). Seven is the point of neutrality on the pH scale. The lower the pH, the greater the acidity of a solution; the higher the pH, the greater the alkalinity. Blood has a pH of around 7.4 and this is usually acidified as it is filtered by the kidneys to a pH of about 6 in the urine.

Depending on your status, the pH of your urine may range from 4.5 to 8.

The kidneys are extremely important in charge of regulating the pH - urine becomes increasingly acidic as the amount of sodium and excess acid retained by the body increases. Alkaline urine, usually containing bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer, is normally excreted when there is an excess of base or alkali in the body.

A highly acidic urine pH occurs in:

• Acidosis
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Diarrhoea
• Starvation
• Dehydration
• Respiratory problems in which carbon dioxide retention occurs and acidosis develops

A highly alkaline urine occurs in:

• Urinary tract obstruction (such as kidney stones)
• Pyloric obstruction - this occurs in the stomach and causes vomiting
• Salicylate intoxication (eg aspirin)
• Renal tubular acidosis
• Chronic renal failure
• Respiratory conditions that involve hyperventilation (blowing off carbon dioxide and the development of alkalosis)

In people who are not vegetarians, the pH of urine tends to be acidic. A diet rich in citrus fruits, legumes, and vegetables raises the pH and produces urine that is more alkaline. Most of the bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections make the urine more alkaline because the bacteria split urea into ammonia and other alkaline waste products.

Control of pH is important in the management of several diseases, including bacterial urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and drug therapy.

KIDNEY STONES

The formation of stones in the urinary tract is related to the urine acidity. Treatment for kidney stones commonly includes diets or medications to change the pH of the urine to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium phosphate stones develop in alkaline urine; when this occurs, the urine is kept acidic.

Uric acid, cystine, and calcium oxalate stones precipitate in acidic urine; in this situation, the urine should be kept alkaline or less acidic than normal.

Here are important points to remember about urinary pH:

• An accurate measurement of urinary pH can be done only on fresh voided urine. If there is a delay between voiding and analysis, it should be kept refrigerated.
• While you're asleep, the natural decrease in breathing ratespulmonary ventilation causes respiratory acidosis. As a result, a first waking urine specimen is usually highly acidic.
• Bacteria causing a urinary tract infection or bacterial contamination will produce alkaline urine.
• A diet rich in citrus fruits, most vegetables, and legumes will keep the urine alkaline.
• A diet high in meat and cranberry juice will keep the urine acidic.
• Urine pH is an important screening test for the diagnosis of renal disease, respiratory disease, and certain metabolic disorders.
• If urine pH is to be useful, it is necessary to use the information obtained alongside other diagnostic information.

WHAT IS NORMAL?

Normal urine may range from a pH of 4.5 to 8. Around 6 is desirable.  Urine is usually more acidic in the morning. For this reason we recommend that urine testing be done first thing in the morning while in the fasting state, as the pH may be influenced by the acid or alkaline forming potential of the food you eat during the day.

It is important to note that there is a difference between the pH values of food before and after they are eaten. Citrus fruits, such as lemons and grapefruits are highly acidic, but turn alkaline when they are metabolized by the body. Excessive consumption of citrus fruits will cause the urine to become more alkaline.

Using Live Blood Analysis, we can assess the impact of your pH on your blood - and you can see it change over time as well!

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