Ph 7 what environment in the urine. Increased acidity of urine. What does urine pH mean?

Urine pH (its acidity, reaction) is an indicator that helps determine the amount of hydrogen ions in the fluid secreted by the kidneys. PH of urine (urine) demonstrates its physical properties, allows you to assess the balance of alkali and acid. The pH (reaction) of urine plays an important role in determining the general condition of the human body, helping to diagnose diseases.

Properties of urine

Urine (in laboratory conditions, the name urine is more often used) is a liquid formed during human life, along with which metabolic products leave the body. It is formed in the nephrons (kidney tubules) in the process of filtering blood plasma and consists of 97% water. The remaining 3% are salts and products of nitrogenous origin, formed as a result of the breakdown of the protein group of substances.

By producing urine, the kidneys remove waste materials from the body. The kidneys perform a very important function: they are able to retain the substances necessary for the body, which are responsible for the exchange of water, glucose, electrolytes and amino acids. Thanks to the kidneys, the acid-base balance in the body is regulated, on which the normal metabolic process depends.

The kidneys excrete urine, which contains substances with certain acid-base properties. If the urine contains more substances with acidic properties, then it is considered acidic (then the pH level is below 7), and if substances with basic (alkaline) properties predominate, then the urine is alkaline (the pH is greater than 7). Neutral acidity (pH level is 7) has urine, in which there are equally substances with both alkaline and acidic properties.

Urine pH indicates, in particular, the efficiency of the body's processing of minerals that are responsible for the level of acidity: magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca). If the pH level is above normal, the body must independently neutralize the acid accumulated in the tissues, and for this it can borrow the necessary minerals from the bones and various organs. Most often this happens when there is not enough vegetables eaten and excessive meat consumption, therefore, in order to maintain a normal pH level, the body takes calcium from the bones, which become brittle over time.

The acidity of urine can change due to such factors:

• features of metabolism;
• diseases of the genitourinary system, accompanied by inflammatory processes;
• acidity of the stomach;
• nutritional features;
• processes in the body that cause acidification or alkalization of the blood;
• features of the work of the renal tubules;
• the amount of liquid a person drinks.

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The pH level of urine is a very important indicator and, together with other characteristics, allows you to reliably assess the current state of the body. The level of acidity of urine can change in both directions with bacterial infections in the body, namely as a result of diseases of the urinary system. Changes in pH directly depend on the characteristics of the end products of bacterial metabolism.

Acidity pH

Acidity (pH) - an indicator of the activity of hydrogen particles, their characteristics in liquids and solutions.

In medicine, the acidity index of human biological fluids, including urine, plays a very important role in determining the state of health.

The value of acidity in the body cannot be lower than 0.86 pH.

The activity of hydrogen particles depends on several factors, and this is influenced not only by various metabolic processes, but also by the characteristics of the products consumed. For example, eating foods high in animal proteins provokes changes in the pH of urine towards acidification, and the use of food of plant origin, milk and products of its processing is accompanied by alkalization of urine.

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Normal performance

If the pH value is in the range of 5 to 7 in the analysis of urine, this is the norm. If there are small deviations from the norm within the pH range of 4.5-8, then such changes do not bode well only if they are short-lived. At night, at the time of sleep, from midnight to 3 o'clock in the morning, the normal pH of urine is from 4.9 to 5.2 units.

The lowest rates are observed on an empty stomach in the early morning, and the highest - after a meal. If in the morning urine has a pH of 6.0 to 6.4, and in the evening it does not go beyond 6.4-7.0, then the urinary system is normal, and the body itself as a whole functions normally.

The optimal level of urine acidity can be considered 6.4-6.5 units. If the urine reaction has deviations from the norm for a long time, and it is impossible to establish the obvious reasons for the appearance of these indicators, then it is necessary to conduct a laboratory analysis of urine to diagnose such changes.

The rate of activity of hydrogen particles in the urine in children is considered completely different, and pH values ​​​​depend on the age of the child. For newborns, an indicator of the normal functioning of the body can be considered a urine pH in the range of 5.4-5.9 units, and for children born ahead of time, the norm of urine acidity is from 4.8 to 5.4. A few days after birth, the activity of hydrogen particles stabilizes in the child. We can say that the functioning of the child's body is normal if the urine reaction does not go beyond the following limits:

• 6.9-7.8 when breastfeeding;
• 5.4-6.9 when fed with mixtures that replace breast milk.

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acidification of urine

Acidification of urine occurs due to disorders of the body and as a result of diseases. The following reasons can provoke such changes:

• the use of foods high in fats, acids and proteins (meat and white bread);
• kidney disease;
• intake of an excessive amount of sodium chloride solution intravenously during the treatment period;
• inflammatory processes in the urinary system caused by diseases (for example, cystitis or tuberculosis of the bladder);
• allergic reactions in children;
• the intake of an excess amount of acids along with drugs, food supplements, etc.

The acidic urine reaction may be the result of increased formation of acids in the body under such circumstances:

• diabetes;
• alcohol abuse;
• prolonged fasting;
• shock conditions;
• prolonged physical activity.

Prolonged acidification of urine can signal possible disturbances in the functioning of the body, malnutrition, diseases, or the negative effects of other factors. To accurately determine the cause of the violation of the acid-base balance towards acidification, it is necessary to conduct laboratory studies. When a disease is detected, the doctor must study the characteristics of your body, and then prescribe treatment.

Alkaline norm

If the acidity of urine constantly shifts towards alkalization, it is necessary first of all to study the characteristics of the food consumed (the indicator is influenced by milk and vegetable diets). If nutrition is not able to provoke such changes, then there is an infection in the urinary tract. If microbes enter the test sample from environment and/or the urine sits long enough, this can also cause the urine to become alkaline. In such an environment, the best conditions are created for the life and reproduction of microorganisms that cause inflammation in the kidneys and urethra.

Alkaline urine can be the result of a variety of diseases and disorders, and the most common causes of such changes can be:

• excessive consumption of dairy products and plant foods;
• urinary tract infections, except for inflammatory processes caused by tuberculosis bacterium or Escherichia coli;
• vomiting (there is a loss of water and chlorine);
• chronic kidney failure;
• increased acidity of the stomach;
• the use of certain drugs (bicarbonates, nicotinamide, adrenaline);
• drinking alkaline mineral water in large quantities;
• hematuria (imperceptible blood, namely its components in the urine);
• the presence of other serious diseases.

Hematuria is seen in people with urinary tract infections, prostate and bladder stones. Hematuria may indicate the development of cancer and is one of the main symptoms of this kind of disease. It could be a tumor of the prostate, bladder, or kidney cancer.

Also, similar changes in the characteristics of urine can occur as a result of the intake of vegetarian food (fruits, black bread, especially citrus fruits), vegetables and milk. These products are not able to keep the pH normal and provoke its shift towards an increase. A change in the reaction of urine is observed in pregnant women when, with a milk and vegetable diet, the pH is above 7.0. Due to the fact that some bacteria can increase the alkaline properties of urine, it is customary to conduct laboratory tests on fresh urine that has not stood for more than 2 hours.

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Definition of subacidity

To diagnose diseases, to detect certain deviations in the work of the body, such a laboratory study as a urinalysis allows. It can be microscopic, that is, the study takes place visually, using a microscope, as well as physicochemical, which involves the use of chemical reagents. In the laboratory study of urine, not only do they pay attention to the pH value, but also take into account many other characteristics, paying special attention to the presence of substances that are absent in the urine of a completely healthy person.

Today, you can easily purchase special indicator tests that are multifunctional due to the ability to determine not only the acidity of urine, but also several (from 2 to 13) of its other characteristics. Thanks to such devices, you can easily conduct a urine test at home in a short period of time (about 2 minutes). If the composition of urine has even slight deviations from the norm, this indicates a metabolic disorder.

A single analysis of urine does not allow an accurate assessment of the state of the body. In order to conduct high-quality diagnostics and get the most accurate results, the pH test should be performed three consecutive days three times a day. To accurately determine the acidity of urine, a pH test is best done one hour before a meal or 2 hours after it. Before analyzing the pH of urine, you should not eat carrots and beets, as these products can change the properties of urine. Do not take diuretics, as they affect the chemical composition of urine.

Urine analysis in Russian laboratories is carried out at various costs. The study of the properties of urine can cost from 125 to 1500 rubles, and the price depends on the location of the laboratory, as well as on its characteristics and qualifications of employees. For 2016 in Russia, you can take urine for analysis in one of 725 laboratories in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities of the country.

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At home, you can determine whether urine acidity is normal using the following basic methods:

• Magarshak's way;
• litmus paper;
• using a blue bromthymol indicator;
• special test strips (indicator).

Laboratory (clinical or general) urinalysis has an important difference from other diagnostic methods. The main advantage of analysis in the laboratory is not only the assessment of the properties of urine (physicochemical and biochemical), but also the possibility of examining the sediment with a microscope. Do not forget that any home diagnostics of urine is not able to replace the assessment of the state of health by a doctor and a qualified laboratory worker.

The reaction or acidity of urine reflects the ratio of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in it, in other words, the balance of acidic and alkaline substances. This indicator is the most incomprehensible to a simple layman, but for a doctor this criterion is very important. Moreover, paradoxically, the value of urine acidity is not so much as a diagnostic indicator, but as a condition that strongly affects the treatment regimen for various kidney pathologies.

The reaction rate of urine is approximately 4-7 pH. A completely neutral environment corresponds to the number 7, with a decrease in this value, the acidity of the medium increases, and with an increase, the alkaline component increases.

Why does the acidity of urine change?

This criterion depends on the general condition of the body and the level of metabolism. But no less significant influence on the reaction of urine is exerted by the nature of human nutrition and its drinking regimen. Therefore, doctors have the ability to adjust the pH of the urine by simply prescribing a diet. For example, an increase in the proportion of fats and proteins in food contributes to a decrease in pH or an increase in acidity. And foods rich in carbohydrates increase the pH and alkalinize the environment.

A decrease in pH develops with the accumulation of acidic products in the urine. One example of such a condition is ketonuria in diabetes mellitus - ketone bodies are acids, so they increase acidity. Conversely, urinary stasis and some urinary tract infections increase the pH and alkalinize the environment.

However, as already mentioned, urine acidity does not play such a big role in the diagnosis of diseases. However, its influence on the processes in the urinary system is very large. The following is only a brief description of the main processes that can change under the influence of urine pH:

• The solubility of various salts and acids is directly dependent on the acidity of the medium in which they are located. For example, uric acid dissolves in an alkaline environment and precipitates in an acidic one. And phosphates and oxalates, on the contrary, are more soluble in an acidic environment. This is of great importance in urolithiasis - the excessive accumulation of any substance in combination with the "wrong" pH creates ideal conditions for the formation of stones. At the same time, a change in the acidity of urine contributes to the dissolution and removal of stones.
• Many microorganisms more often cause inflammation of the urinary tract only with a certain reaction of urine that is suitable only for them. For example, E. coli is more dangerous in an acidic environment, and staphylococcus is more dangerous in an alkaline one. Determining the reaction of the environment helps to identify the pathogen.
• A number of antibiotics can also work only within a fairly narrow pH range. This makes it necessary to take into account or adjust the acidity of urine in the treatment of urinary tract infections. For example, macrolides and penicillins are more effective in an alkaline environment, and tetracyclines and nitrofurans in an acidic one.

A feature of this

The acidity of urine is a value that shows the concentration of hydrogen ions. It is necessary in the diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. In medical practice, the acidity level of urine is reflected as pH. Throughout the day, this indicator constantly fluctuates due to the food consumed. The pH level depends on the concentration of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium in the body, since these substances change the activity of hydrogen.

Photo 1. Diseases of the stomach provoke a change in its acidity, the patient begins to experience discomfort with digestion. Source: Flickr (Agencia ID).

Normal performance

The rate of acidity of urine depends on the sex, age, weight, nutrition of the patient. The normal pH of urine in an adult male ranges from 5-7.

In the morning time the average is 6-6.4 pH,in the evening - 6.4-7.

If the indicators correspond to these data, the work of your kidneys is in perfect order.

Note! The level of acidity in urine is affected by many diseases of the stomach, which contribute to the release of too much or too little hydrochloric acid.

Causes of changes in the acidity of urine

Usually, deviations in the pH level indicate kidney disease. It is very important to conduct an extended diagnosis that will help determine the exact cause of this phenomenon. Experts note that the following factors affect the acidity of urine:

• The nature of nutrition- the food consumed may contain acid or prevent its formation in the body.
• Metabolism- affects the absorption of acids, which determines their amount in the urine.
• The presence of inflammatory processes in the urinary tract - they interfere with the normal functioning of the kidneys.
• Stomach acidity- its secret can enter the esophagus, and then be excreted along with the urine.
• The functionality of the kidney tubules– can throw out or take away a certain amount of acid.
• Alkalosis or acidosis– changes in the chemical composition of the blood.

What causes the pH to rise

An increase in the pH of urine occurs due to ingestion or production of an excessive amount of acid by the body. The following factors can provoke this phenomenon:

• Eating foods high in acid or protein.
• Escherichia coli.
• Excessive production of acid by the stomach.
• Loss of bicarbonate through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis.
• Taking a number of medications.
• Hypokalemia.
• Primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism, tubular acidosis.

What causes urine acidity to decrease

Low urine pH occurs due to insufficient intake or production of acid in the body. Alkalinization can occur for the following reasons:

• The use of dairy and plant foods in unlimited quantities.
• Renal failure.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Increased acidity of the stomach.
• Hyperkalemia and hypoaldosteronism
• Disorders in the work of the parathyroid gland.

Photo 2. Adults need to use milk with caution. It is best to consult a diet specialist. Source: Flickr (Lauren Maurice).

Is deviation from the norm dangerous?

When the acidity level of the urine is not within the normal range, fine sand can settle in the kidneys. Over time, small grains of sand can combine with each other to form one large stone. Such stones are oxalate, urate and phosphate.

Note! If the acidity of the urine is increased, then the similar indicator of the blood will also differ from the norm.

The appearance of stones can lead to the following complications:

• An increase in blood viscosity, which suffering from the cardiovascular system.
• Reproduction of infections and bacteria in the body.
• metabolic disorders, because of which toxins and slags are not excreted from the body.

Diagnostics

To date, several methods have been developed that allow you to determine the acidity of urine.

You can do it not only in the laboratory, but also at home.

It is very important to constantly monitor this indicator for people with high blood sugar, uraturia, oxaluria.

Use of litmus paper

Litmus paper is a special material impregnated with a reagent. Upon contact with urine, it changes its color. To determine the acidity, you must use 2 strips: red and blue. According to the data draw conclusions about the pH.

• If two strips do not change color, the reaction is neutral.
• If two strips have changed color, then the urine can be both alkaline and acidic.
• If the red bar turns blue, the acidity is low.
• If the blue turns red, the acidity is increased.

Magarshak method

Thanks to the Magarshak method at home, it is possible to determine the approximate pH level. To conduct such a study, it is necessary to add a special solution to the urine. After that, you need to evaluate the changes:

• Green urine - pH approximately 6.2.
• Light purple - pH about 6.6.
• Gray - pH is 7.2.
• Green - pH exceeds 7.8.

test strips

On special test strips, urine pH is diagnosed in the laboratory, but you you can use at home. Using them is very simple, a piece of paper must be lowered into freshly collected urine. There are a large number of their varieties, so read the instructions to determine the norm.

How to take an analysis

In order for the result of the study to be as truthful as possible, it is necessary to take into account a number of simple rules for collecting urine. Follow these guidelines:

• For analysis only morning urine is suitable.
• Before collecting material take a shower.
• Make sure your urine container is completely clean..
• Do not collect the first urine for analysis - a small amount of material needs to be lowered.
• When collecting, try do not touch the penis.
• Urine should be stored in a cool place and no more than 1.5 hours.

Note! Proper urine collection will help you get the most accurate results. This will help to more accurately determine the state of the body.

How to normalize acidity

Normalize deviations in the acidity of urine will help diet change.

Photo 3. Citrus fruits with high acidity are prohibited.

Acidic urine is an indicator that is determined by specialists during laboratory diagnostics. The indicator can be regarded as a quantitative characteristic of the liquid. The manifestation of this characteristic is associated with disturbances in the metabolic process.

The characteristic of the acidity of urine in scientific terminology is referred to as a pH indicator. There are standard indicators for this characteristic and deviations in one direction or another. In general, the pH indicator gives an idea of ​​the ratio of acidic and alkaline environment in urine. Deviations from the norm, as a rule, indicate pathological changes in a certain area of ​​human life.

Characteristics of the pH indicator

In relation to the generally accepted definition, it can be argued that the acidity of urine is the ratio of hydroxyl and hydrogen ions in it.

The metabolic process is inherent in people throughout their lives, during which compounds enter the body, during the decay of which certain substances are formed that can shift the pH to the acidic or alkaline side. This indicator cannot be neglected, this is due to the fact that when recommending diets and prescribing medications, in many cases, urine acidity is taken into account. If during the diagnostic process an acid reaction of urine was established, then the doctor will definitely prescribe an additional course of examination, which will help to establish the cause of the deviation.

It should be borne in mind that a low pH indicates a malfunction of the kidneys. Elevated levels indicate the so-called acidic urine. In this case, the risk of accelerated salt crystallization is high. An acidic environment can lead to the formation of kidney stones, which will aggravate the vital processes of the patient's body.

If we turn to deciphering the acidity of the indicator, then everything is very simple and clear:

• pH 5–7 - indicates the normal state and functioning of the kidney system;
• pH 4.5 and below - indicates acidic urine;
• pH 7.5 and above indicates alkaline urine.

If acidic urine is detected during the diagnosis, the doctor must require an analysis in 2-3 days. In this case, a certain diet must be prescribed, which must be followed during this time. This is due to the fact that some elements of food can significantly deviate the acidity index. For a 100% correct diagnosis, it is necessary to compare several indicators, taking into account the patient's daily nutrition.

Factors affecting deviations

The cause of acidic urine is often a metabolic disorder. Changes may be due to the use of products that adversely affect this indicator. The problem may be hidden in violation of the water regime. Lack of fluid in the body can lead to a high concentration of urine and cause a sour smell.

At the first stages of rehabilitation, doctors prescribe a special diet, which should normalize the acidity of urine. The diet must necessarily include products that, after decay, will supply the body with both alkaline and acidic elements. Speaking about the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the process of digestion, it should be understood that:

1. An increase in the concentration of proteins and fats leads to a shift in indicators to the acid side.
2. Increasing the intake of carbohydrates will lead to changes in the alkaline side.

The most common symptom of acidic urine occurs in people with diabetes. This is due to the fact that with this disease in the patient's urine, as a rule, there are ketone bodies that can reduce the pH level. As a result, due to elevated glucose levels and low pH in people with diabetes, disturbances in the endocrine system are found.

The treatment of many ailments is based on a urine test. The importance of this indicator cannot be overestimated, because it allows you to detect a large number of diseases at an early stage and thus eliminate the problem at the very beginning of its development.

Reasons for the shift in the indicator to the acid side

It should be understood that in addition to pathological causes, there are also natural factors that affect the change in pH to the acid side. Many people use various biological supplements to improve their health. However, often they are simply not aware of the chemical side of these additives. Often, such preparations contain compounds that can provoke changes in the direction of acidic urine. The natural causes of the development of the disease include the content of foods in the diet that are rich in acids, lipids and proteins.

The following causes of the development of the disease can also be distinguished:

1. Congenital kidney disease in a child or acquired by a person during life.
2. The use of drugs with a high content of sodium chloride in the treatment of any disease.
3. If inflammatory processes begin in the urinary system, which were provoked by an infection of various kinds of origin.
4. General decrease in immunity. As a rule, the reason for this is the frequent manifestation allergic reactions and respiratory diseases, especially in children.
5. Excessive use of drugs, during the decay of which substances with high acidity are formed.

Doctors say that if urine has a sour smell, then the presence of uric acid diathesis in the body may be the reason for this. This means that in the process of metabolic disorders, deviations occurred that led to the malfunction of the kidney tubules.

The high content of protein in food is also fatal. With an overabundance of this element in the diet, the accumulation of uric acid begins. According to experts, this type of disease is most often manifested in people who have a monotonous diet.

In order to prescribe the correct treatment, it is necessary to determine the causes of acidification of urine. Typically, these factors include:

1. Metabolic disorders, which are caused by shifts in the work of the endocrine system.
2. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
3. Received severe injuries or burns that lead to the extreme stage of stress.
4. Excessive workload or too active lifestyle.
5. Refusal to eat food of animal origin.

To eliminate the above factors, it is enough to reduce physical activity or change your diet. In general, deviations from the usual mode of life for the better can overcome a large number of factors that provoke a pH shift.

acidic urine in children

Urine analysis is a mandatory part of a medical examination when it comes to children. In addition to acidity, an analysis of color, sediment, density, etc. is carried out. This is due to the fact that urine carries a huge number of indicators that may indicate many deviations in a child's life.

This issue should be given great attention, since children are not always able to tell their parents about their pains or problems, especially when it comes to newborns. Moms and dads should be very attentive to the health of their child, pay attention to all the changes that occur in the process of his life.

Parents should pay attention to the color and smell of the child's urine. If it has an unpleasant, pungent and sour smell, then you should immediately contact a specialist to diagnose and identify the disease. A downward deviation in the pH value may indicate serious and dangerous diseases, such as kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, or a feverish state. Often the reason for the deviation can be starvation, which is unacceptable for a child at an early age.

All of these diseases are dangerous to health, and their treatment should be started immediately. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate, this can only aggravate the situation.

Sour smell of urine in women may be present during pregnancy. In this case, you should not go to extremes and worry. During the bearing of a child, various malfunctions often occur in the body, one of these factors may be a change in the pH value.

Treatment Methods

At a low pH level, depending on the cause, doctors prescribe a set of drugs that not only affect the normalization of acidity, but also fight the main cause of the disease. A special diet is also compiled, which is able to normalize the ratio of the acidic and alkaline environment and thereby normalize the processes in the urinary system. In order for this to happen, it is necessary to enrich the diet with alkaline foods and reduce the intake of foods that can increase acidity.

First of all, all citrus fruits are eliminated from the diet. And the following products must be present in the daily menu:

• vegetables (potatoes, cabbage, carrots, beets, etc.);
• legumes (lentils, peas, beans, etc.);
• various cereals, mainly cereals;
• rice is a necessary element of the diet.

An important factor is that overweight people often suffer from the problem of acidic urine. They are prescribed a diet that is aimed not only at normalizing the pH index, but also at a general reduction in body weight. Such a diet will have a positive effect on the functioning of the whole organism. Be sure to remember the benefits of plain water. With regular use of at least 2 liters per day, most of the diseases of the urinary system will never be disturbed.

When identifying the first symptoms of a violation, you can analyze yourself. As a result of the examination, diagnostic indicators will be provided. However, in no case is it allowed to decipher them. Only a qualified specialist can correctly analyze the situation and prescribe a suitable course of rehabilitation measures. And this means that in case of any violations, it is worth contacting a urologist to draw up complex treatment and then strictly adhere to the doctor's instructions.

Summing up all of the above, I would like to note that urine pH analysis is an extremely important factor in identifying ailments of various origins. Even if the reason for the deviation does not lie in any disease, but it is associated with an improper diet, then the problem that has arisen should be taken very seriously. Regular violations of the acidity of urine can lead to more serious diseases associated with both the kidneys and the endocrine system. If the first symptoms are detected, it is necessary to conduct a thorough diagnosis in order to clearly understand why such deviations occurred and what methods should be used to deal with them.

pH (acidity) of urine

urine pH(urine reaction, urine acidity) - a pH indicator that shows the amount of hydrogen ions in human urine. Urine pH allows you to establish the physical properties of urine, to assess the balance of acids and alkalis. Urine pH indicators are extremely important for assessing the general condition of the body, diagnosing diseases.

Determination of acidity is a mandatory diagnostic test when conducting general analysis urine. The reaction or acidity of urine is a physical quantity that determines the amount of hydrogen ions. It can be measured both qualitatively (acidic, neutral, alkaline), and quantitatively - using pH.

In relation to urine, the pH values ​​​​are as follows:

• 5.5 - 6.4 - sour;
• 6.5 - 7.5 - neutral;
• more than 7.5 - alkaline.

Urine reaction should be evaluated immediately after delivery to the laboratory. When standing, the components of the urine undergo bacterial decomposition. First of all, it is urea, which decomposes to ammonia, and it, dissolving in water, forms an alkali. Determination of the pH of urine is carried out using special test strips.

Absolutely healthy people (are there still such people?) have acidic urine. However, a shift in its pH to the neutral or alkaline side is not a pathology. The fact is that a huge number of factors affect the acidity of urine: diet, physical activity, various diseases, and not only kidney ones. If in your analysis today the environment is acidic, tomorrow it is neutral, the day after tomorrow it is again acidic, then there is nothing wrong with that. Problems begin if the urine is chronically "not acidic."

Under what pathological conditions can a shift in urine pH to the alkaline side be observed?

• Hyperventilation of the lungs (shortness of breath).
• Loss of acids on vomiting.
• Acute or chronic urinary tract infections.
• Chronic intoxications, including cancer.

Why is a chronic shift in the reaction of urine to neutral or alkaline dangerous?

1. Formation of stones in the urinary system.

In acidic urine, only urate stones, which are formed from uric acid, can occur. As a rule, those appear with gout and make up about 5% of the total number of stones. Other uroliths (urinary stones) require either a neutral or alkaline environment. The most dangerous are calcium phosphates and carbonates.

2. Increased risk of urinary infections.

In acidic urine, bacteria do not live well, but if the urine is neutral or alkaline, then the bacteria multiply very remarkably there.

How to influence the acidity of urine?

At the beginning I will tell what not to do.

1. Drink a lot of soda.

Since the 1930s, doctors have known Burnett's syndrome. Otherwise, it is called the "milk-soda" syndrome. The use of large amounts of calcium (milk, dairy products, antacids - drugs that reduce acidity in the stomach: Almagel, Phosphalugel, Rennie, etc.) leads to mild alkalosis (a shift in blood pH to the alkaline side), and, as a result, alkalization of urine. In mild cases, this only increases the risk of kidney stones. But there are citizens who begin to drink milk or antacids with soda, aggravating alkalosis. As a result, calcium in the blood takes off so that it begins to pose a threat to life, causing arrhythmias, muscle weakness, impaired kidney function, irreversible loss of vision, etc.

To summarize: all excess soda is excreted from the body with urine, making it neutral or alkaline.

2. Take a lot of ascorbic acid.

The logic of this action is clear, but there is a problem. Vitamin C is not filtered into the urine, all of its absorbed amount goes into metabolic processes with the formation of alkaline products, and they are filtered into the urine. Thus, a large amount of ascorbic acid leads to a shift in the pH of urine to the alkaline side.

Now about that how to make urine sour. To clarify, these recommendations apply only to people with chronically low urine pH. For preventive purposes, the described methods are not used.

1. Diet.

Food products can be divided into the following groups:

• sources of acids - meat and fish, asparagus, cereals, cheese, eggs, alcohol and natural coffee;
• base scavengers - products for the processing of which alkalis are spent: sugar, and any (white and brown), as well as products containing it (ice cream, marmalade, jam, chocolate, sweets, confectionery), white flour products (white bread, pasta ), solid fats;
• alkali suppliers - potatoes and other root vegetables, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, herbal tea, fresh herbs, fruits;
• neutral foods - vegetable oil, legumes, nuts.

To acidify urine, you need to shift the balance of food to the acid side.

2. Phosphoric acid.

We are talking about the additive E338, which is present as a preservative in Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola and other drinks containing "-cola" in the name. This supplement is not metabolized and is filtered into the urine unchanged, making it acidic.

Orthophosphoric acid has side effects. It damages tooth enamel, binds calcium in the blood, washing it out of the bones, and Coca-Cola itself contains too much sugar and caffeine, which is unsafe for certain diseases.

instead of a conclusion.

Restoring the pH of urine should not be overdone. An excess of acids in the body (acidosis) can adversely affect the metabolism of vitamins, the functioning of the immune system, etc. In addition, too low a urine pH (below 5.5) is dangerous for the precipitation of uric acid crystals, which can become stones. Remember - everything is good in moderation.

pH in urine - a common mistake in patients in the pronunciation of the term. "pH" is not a substance or component of urine. pH is a measure of the activity of hydrogen ions, a unit of measure. Accordingly, it is correct to say pH (or acidity) urine.

Metabolism is a set of chemical reactions that occur in the human body to sustain life. Thanks to the metabolism, the body gets the opportunity to develop, maintain its structures and respond to environmental influences. For a normal human metabolism, it is required that the acid-base balance ( ABR) be maintained within certain limits. The kidneys play an important role in the regulation of acid-base balance.

The most important function of the kidneys is the excretion of “unnecessary” substances from the body, the retention of substances necessary to ensure the exchange of glucose, water, amino acids and electrolytes, and the maintenance of acid-base balance (ABR) in the body. The renal tubules absorb hydrocarbons from primary urine and secrete hydrogen ions through the conversion of dihydrogen phosphate to monohydrogen phosphate or the formation of ammonium ions.

Urine excreted by the kidneys contains substances that have acid-base properties. If the substances are acidic, the urine is acidic (pH less than 7), if the substances are basic (alkaline), the urine is alkaline (pH above 7). If the substances in the urine are balanced, the urine has a neutral acidity (pH = 7).

Urine pH shows, in particular, how efficiently the body absorbs the minerals that regulate acid levels: calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium. These minerals are called "acid dampeners". With increased acidity, the body must neutralize the acid that accumulates in the tissues, for which it begins to borrow minerals from various organs and bones. With a systematically increased level of acidity, the bones become brittle. This is usually the result of eating too much meat and not eating vegetables: the body takes calcium from its own bones and, with its help, regulates the pH level.

Urine pH is an important characteristic, which, together with other indicators, allows for a reliable diagnosis of the current state of the patient's body.

When the pH of urine shifts in one direction or another, salts precipitate out:

• at a urine pH below 5.5, urate stones form - an acidic environment contributes to the dissolution of phosphates;
• at a urine pH of 5.5 to 6.0, oxalate stones are formed;
• at a urine pH above 7.0, phosphate stones are formed - an alkaline environment contributes to the dissolution of urates.

These indicators should be taken into account in the treatment of urolithiasis.

Uric acid stones almost never occur at urine pH greater than 5.5, and phosphate stones never formed if urine not alkaline.

The fluctuation of urine pH levels depends on a number of factors:

• inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract;
• acidity of the stomach;
• metabolism (metabolism);
• pathological processes occurring in the human body, accompanied by alkalosis (alkalinization of the blood), acidosis (acidification of the blood);
• food intake;
• functional activity of the tubules of the kidneys;
• the amount of fluid you drink.

Systematic deviation from the normal pH to the acid side in medicine is called acidosis, to the alkaline - alkalosis. Since diabetes mellitus, the most common endocrine disease on the planet (often occurring almost asymptomatically for a long time) is always accompanied by acidosis, special attention will be paid to diabetes mellitus in this article.

The pH of urine affects the activity and reproduction of bacteria, as a result, the effectiveness of antibacterial treatment: in an acidic environment, the pathogenicity of Escherichia coli increases, as the rate of its reproduction increases.

Drugs nitrofurans and tetracycline preparations are more effective in acidic urine pH, antibiotics penicillin, aminoglycosides (kanamycin, gentamicin) and erythromycin from the macrolide group are most effective in alkaline urine.

In bacterial infections of the urinary system of the human body, the pH level can change in both directions, depending on the nature of the end products of bacterial metabolism.

Urine

Urine ( urine) - a biological fluid, a product of human vital activity, with which metabolic products are excreted from the body. Urine is formed by filtering blood plasma in the capillary glomeruli of the kidneys, nephrons. Urine is 97% water, the rest is nitrogenous breakdown products of protein substances (hippuric and uric acids, xanthine, urea, creatinine, indican, urobilin) ​​and salt (mainly sulfates, chlorides and phosphate).

The consequence of hyperglycemia is usually an increase in the level of glucose in the urine.

The danger of diabetes mellitus (especially type 2) is that the disease proceeds long time practically asymptomatic: the patient may not be aware of its existence until the moment when the body already there were no irreversible changes that could have been prevented by timely diagnosis and therapy.

Urine is universal indicator, indicating a particular failure in the functioning of organs. The cause of acidic urine can be both an unbalanced diet and diabetes mellitus, in which there is an increased acidity of the urine (the pH value shifts to around 5).

pH

pH, pH indicator (from the Latin phrase pondus hydrogenii– “hydrogen weight” or potentia Hydrogenii, English power Hydrogen - "power of hydrogen") is a measure of the activity of hydrogen ions in a solution, quantitatively expressing its acidity. The concept of pH was introduced in 1909 by the Danish biochemist, Professor Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen. The most common mistake in the Russian language for the correct pronunciation of pH (“pe ash”) is pH (“er eN”).

pH is equal in modulus and opposite in sign to the base 10 logarithm of hydrogen ion activity, expressed in moles per liter (mol/litre).

pH \u003d - lg (H +).

Inorganic substances - acids, salts and alkalis, in solutions are separated into their constituent ions. Positively charged H + ions form an acidic environment, negatively charged OH − ions form an alkaline one. In significantly dilute solutions, acidic and alkaline properties depend on the concentrations of H + and OH − ions, the activity of which is related to each other. In pure water with a temperature of 25 ° C, the concentrations of hydrogen ions () and hydroxide ions () are the same and amount to 10-7 mol / liter, which directly follows from the definition of the ionic product of water, which is equal to and is 10-14 mol² / l² ( at temperature = 25 °C). Thus, the generally accepted minimum value of pH = 0, maximum = 14 (although, in exceptional cases, in technical industries, pH can be either minus or greater than 14).

Accordingly, solutions and liquids (as well as the media in which they are present), with respect to their acidity, are considered:

• acidic at levels from 0 to 7.0;
• neutral at level = 7.0;
• alkaline at levels from 7.0 to 14.0.

In the human body, the acidity value cannot be less than pH 0.86.

Acidity

Acidity (from Latin aciditas) - characteristic activity of hydrogen ions in solutions and liquids:

• If the acidity of any medium or liquid is below 7.0, this means an increase in acidity, a decrease in alkalinity;
• If the acidity of any medium or liquid is above 7.0, this means a decrease in acidity, an increase in alkalinity;
• If the acidity of any medium or liquid is at = 7.0, this means that the reaction is neutral.

In medicine, the pH of biological fluids (in particular: urine, blood, gastric juice) is diagnostically important parameter characterizing the state of health of the patient.

• renal tubular acidosis - according to ICD-10 - N25.8, a rickets-like disease (primary tubulopathy), characterized by persistent metabolic acidosis, low bicarbonate levels and an increased concentration of chlorine in the blood serum. The reaction of urine is acidic;
• urinary tract infections - infections of the lower (urethritis, cystitis) and upper urinary tract (pyelonephritis, abscess and carbuncle of the kidney, apostematous pyelonephritis). The reaction of urine is both acidic and alkaline (sharply alkaline);
• De Toni syndrome - Debret - Fanconi - according to ICD-10 - E72.0, a rickets-like disease manifested by damage to the proximal renal tubules with impaired tubular reabsorption of glucose, bicarbonate, phosphate and amino acids. The reaction of urine is alkaline;
• metabolic acidosis - according to ICD-10 - E87.2, P74.0 - a violation of the acid-base state, manifested by low blood pH and low plasma bicarbonate concentration due to loss of bicarbonate or accumulation of other acids (except carbonic). The reaction of urine is acidic (with proximal tubular acidosis - alkaline);
• metabolic alkalosis - according to ICD-10 - E87.3 - a violation of the acid-base state of the body, characterized by an absolute or relative excess of bases, an increase in the pH of the blood, other tissues of the body, due to the accumulation of alkaline substances. Metabolic alkalosis occurs in some pathological conditions accompanied by disturbances in electrolyte metabolism, in particular, with hemolysis; in the postoperative period; in children suffering from rickets and / or hereditary dysregulation of electrolyte metabolism. The reaction of urine is alkaline;
• respiratory acidosis, respiratory acidosis - a condition in which the pH of the blood shifts to the acid side, due to an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in it (due to insufficient lung function or respiratory disorders). The reaction of urine is acidic;
• respiratory alkalosis, respiratory alkalosis - a condition in which the pH of the blood shifts to the alkaline side, due to a decrease in the concentration of carbon dioxide in it (due to rapid or deep breathing, hyperventilation). Respiratory alkalosis can be caused by stress, anxiety, pain, liver cirrhosis, fever, overdose of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). The reaction of urine is alkaline;
• drug monitoring;
• prevention of renal calculosis (nephrolithiasis, nephrolithiasis).

Clinical interpretation of urine pH results is only relevant when there is a correlation with other information about the patient's health; or when an accurate diagnosis has already been established, and the results of a urine test allow conclusions to be drawn about the course of the disease.

The level of acidity in urine is of clinical significance only in combination with other symptoms and laboratory parameters.

There are four main methods for determining the pH of urine at home, the study is being conducted in vitro :

1. litmus paper;
2. Magarshak method;
3. bromthymol blue indicator;
4. visual indicator test strips.

Also, to determine the acidity, you can use the services of clinical laboratories, where the study will be carried out as part of a general (clinical) analysis.

Laboratory (general, clinical, OAM) urinalysis is a set of laboratory tests of urine conducted for diagnostic purposes. The advantage of laboratory urinalysis over other diagnostic methods is not only the assessment of the biochemical and physicochemical properties of urine, but also sediment microscopy (using a microscope). The disadvantage of the method is the relative high cost, the impossibility of obtaining the result promptly, the need to deliver the sample in a special container.

Determination by litmus paper

Litmus, litmus paper, litmus indicator - an acid-base indicator, the reagent of which is a dye of natural origin based on azolithine and erythrolithine. The reaction of urine is determined using blue and red litmus paper.

During the analysis, both pieces of paper are immersed in the test sample, the urine reaction is stated by color:

• If the blue paper turns red, and the red does not change color, then the reaction is acidic;
• If the red paper turns blue, and the blue does not change color, then the reaction is alkaline;
• If both papers have not changed color, then the reaction is neutral;
• If both litmus papers change color, then the reaction is amphoteric.

Determine the specific pH value of urine with litmus impossible, more accurate is the determination of urine acidity using liquid indicators (the most reliable results can be obtained using only a pH test strip).

Magarshak method in determining the acidity of urine

The method (method) of Magarshak for determining the acidity of urine consists in its colorimetry after the addition of an indicator, which is a mixture of neutral red and methylene blue.

To use the Magarshak method, an indicator should be prepared: to two volumes of a 0.1% alcoholic solution of neutral red, add one volume of a 0.1% alcoholic solution of methylene blue.

The procedure for determining acidity: 1 drop of indicator is added to a container containing 1-2 ml of urine, after which the sample is mixed.

The interpretation of the results obtained by the Magarshak method is carried out according to the table below.

	Approximate pH value
intense purple
Violet
Light purple
gray purple
Dark grey
Grey-green
light green

Determination of urine reaction with bromthymol blue

To determine the reaction of urine with bromthymol blue indicator, a reagent should be prepared: dissolve 0.1 g of the powdered indicator in 20 ml of warm ethyl alcohol, after cooling to room temperature dilute with clean water to a volume of 100 ml.

The procedure for determining acidity: 1 drop of bromthymol blue is added to a container containing 2-3 ml of urine. The border of transitional tones of the indicator will be in the pH range from 6.0 to 7.6.

The resulting color of the test sample	Urine reaction
	subacid
Grassy	slightly alkaline
Green, blue	alkaline

The advantage of determining the reaction of urine with the bromthymol blue indicator is the low cost, speed and simplicity of the study; the disadvantage is the inability to distinguish urine with normal acidity from pathologically acidic, the study gives only approximate concept of acid or alkaline reaction.

Urine pH Test Strips

To determine the acidity of urine, you can buy a pH test strip - the most simple and affordable tool designed to independent urinalysis for acidity at home. In addition, pH test strips are used in medical centers, clinical diagnostic laboratories, hospitals (clinics), medical institutions. To conduct research and decipher the result of pH analysis - possession of special medical knowledge not required. The most common form of release of test strips in pharmacies is packaging in the form of a tube (pencil case) No. 50 (50 test strips, which, with periodical self-control of the patient approximately corresponds to the monthly requirement. At systematic self-control, at least three times a day, this package is enough, approximately, for two weeks).

Most visual pH test strips are designed to determine the reaction of urine in the pH range from 5 to 9. A mixture of two dyes, bromothymol blue and methyl red, is used as a reagent for the indicator zone. As the reaction proceeds, the acid-base indicator of the test strip turns from orange through yellow and green to blue, depending on the reaction of the urine. The pH value is determined either visually (according to the supplied color chart) or photometrically using a laboratory urinary analyzer (photometrically).

The procedure for determining the acidity of urine with test strips:

1. Remove the test strip from the case (tube);
2. Immerse the strip in the test sample;
3. Remove the test strip, remove excess urine by gently tapping on the container;
4. After 45 seconds, compare the colored indicator with the color scale.

Buy Bioscan pH (Bioscan pH No. 50/No. 100) - Russian strips for pH analysis in urine from Bioscan.

pH strips with two indicators:

• Albufan test strips (Albufan No. 50, AlbuPhan) - European test strips from the company Erba, designed to assess the reaction of urine and the extent of proteinuria (proteins in the urine).

pH strips with three or more indicators:

• Pentafan / Pentafan Laura (PentaPhan / Laura) test strips for urine analysis for reaction, ketones (acetone), total protein (albumins and globulins), sugar (glucose) and occult blood (erythrocytes and hemoglobin) from Erb Lahem, Czech Republic;
• Bioscan Penta (Bioscan Penta No. 50 / No. 100) strips with five indicators from the Russian company Bioscan, allowing you to conduct urine tests for reaction, glucose (sugar), total protein (albumins, globulins), occult blood (erythrocytes and hemoglobin) and ketones;
• uripolian- strips from Biosensor AN with ten indicators, allowing you to analyze urine according to the following characteristics - reaction, ketones (acetone), glucose (sugar), occult blood (erythrocytes, hemoglobin), bilirubin, urobilinogen, density (specific gravity), leukocytes, ascorbic acid, total protein (albumins and globulins).

Self-diagnosis with test strips is not a substitute for regular health assessments by a qualified healthcare professional, physician.

An indication for the appointment of a laboratory pH analysis of urine is often urolithiasis disease. Urine pH analysis provides an opportunity to determine the likelihood and nature of stone formation:

• with acidity below 5.5, uric acid (urate) stones are more likely to form;
• with an acidity of 5.5 - 6.0 - oxalate stones;
• with an acidity of 7.0 - 7.8 - phosphate stones.

A pH of 9 indicates that the urine sample has not been stored correctly.

Laboratory pH analysis of urine is prescribed by medical specialists to monitor the state of the body while following a specific diet, which includes the use of foods with low and high content of potassium, phosphates, sodium.

pH analysis of urine is indicated for kidney disease, endocrine pathology, diuretic therapy.

When conducting a laboratory study of urine, fresh, no older than two hours urine (usually daily urine) is examined, collected in a special container. The pH level is determined by the indicator method: bromthymol blue and methyl red. The accuracy of measurement by the method of indicators allows you to get a result with an accuracy of up to 0.5 units. The use of an electronic laboratory ionometer (pH meter) allows you to get a result with an accuracy of 0.001 units.

Before conducting a pH analysis of urine, you should not eat food that can change the physical properties of urine - beets and carrots. It is unacceptable to take diuretics that affect the chemical composition of urine.

The price of a laboratory urinalysis ranges from 350 rubles to 2500 rubles, depending on the set of studies, the chosen laboratory, and its location. As of June 2016, 725 laboratories in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of the country accept urine for analysis in Russia. The price of analyzes indicated above does not include laboratory discount programs.

” is a compilation of materials obtained from authoritative sources, a list of which is located in the section “

Urine pH (acidity) reflects the degree of concentration of positively charged hydrogen atoms, which determine the acid-base balance. pH is not a formed element or biochemical in urine. The acidity index refers to physico-chemical reactions, and not to the components of the biofluid. Therefore, the terminology commonly used by patients for urinary pH is incorrect.

The correct wording is "urine pH" or "urinalysis pH". Acid-base balance is one of the chemical and physical parameters of the body's homeostasis (the constancy of the internal environment). Enzyme activity, oxidation of fats and carbohydrates, breakdown and production of protein, and the overall stability of metabolic processes depend on its level. pH is an indicator of the processing and absorption of the most important macronutrients (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium).

When the indicator shifts to the acid side, the body is forced to compensate for the imbalance by pulling minerals from bones and organs. Such borrowing leads to diseases of the skeletal system, deterioration in the health of hair, nails and teeth. The pH level, as one of the main diagnostic parameters, is evaluated during the examination of all biological fluids (gastric and pancreatic juice, saliva, semen, secretion of the vaginal and duodenal glands, etc.).

Maintaining acid-base balance is one of the functions of the renal apparatus. Responsible for the formation and excretion of urine are the structural units of the kidneys - nephrons. They filter the liquid part of the blood, and resorption (absorption) and excretion (excretion) of substances are performed. The pH level of urine can be used to assess the functioning of the kidneys and the quality of metabolism.

pH value in urinalysis

The level of acidity is determined during a laboratory study of urine or independently, through a special test. The study of acid-base reaction is included in the general analysis of urine. The study also evaluates:

• organoleptic properties (volume, color, smell, transparency);
• physical and chemical index of density;
• biochemical components (protein, sugar, urobilinogen, leukocytes, etc.).

General analysis is the most accessible and informative method for diagnosing possible deviations in the body. The evaluation of the results is carried out by comparing the obtained indicators with the reference values ​​adopted in laboratory microscopy. The transcript of the final protocol (form) is made by the doctor who wrote out the referral for analysis.

Note! With self-monitoring of pH, you can seek help in decoding the results from any therapist in your area.

Each studied parameter has its own units of measurement and standards. pH is measured in units, the norms are developed taking into account gender and age. stable elevated level acidity is called acidosis, deviations of indicators in the alkaline direction - alkalosis.

Normal values

The acidity index of urine is due to the following features:

• age category of the patient (in adults and children);
• gender (for women and men);
• time of day (morning and evening);
• nutritional characteristics (the predominance of protein, vegetable or dairy products in the diet);
• the presence of chronic diseases (endocrine, urinary system, gastrointestinal tract).

In women, the acid-base balance is affected by pregnancy and breastfeeding. The normal pH level ranges from 5 to 7 units. According to accepted laboratory standards, a slightly acidic urine reaction is considered healthy. The optimum value in this case is pH 6.

Children's indicators

In an infant, the acidity of urine depends on the characteristics of nutrition (artificial mixtures or natural feeding), as well as on the time of birth relative to the gestational age (full-term or premature).

Unstable pH in a newborn baby does not cause concern, provided that there are no genetic pathologies and congenital anomalies. Normalization of the level occurs for 3-4 days. In children and adolescents up to adulthood, the normal pH of urine falls within the range of 6.5 to 7.5 units.

Level in adult men and women

The acidity index in adult men is influenced by muscle mass (MM), in women - by the perinatal period and lactation. During pregnancy, a slight excess of the reference values ​​\u200b\u200bis allowed.

Men		Women
average MM	high MM	not pregnant	pregnant	lactating
6,3–6,5	6,5–7,2	6,0–6,5	5,0–8,0	6,5–6,8

Deviations of a short-term nature are observed at night and in the morning hours (before breakfast). The pH level can drop to 5.2 units. in the morning, and rise in the evening to 7 units. Such "swings" are not dangerous. The constant value of acidity in the morning and evening, which does not go beyond the normative limits, does not apply to pathologies. If during the day the reaction remains stably acidic or stably alkaline, there is a need for an additional examination.

Additionally

Acidification of urine (acidosis) is recorded at pH 5 and below. Uric acid, salts of phosphoric and oxalic acids interact with liquids in which the acidity level is normal or slightly overestimated. When the pH drops to 5 units or less, they turn into a precipitate.

A consistently high level of acidity provokes the formation of uric acid urate stones with a soft structure. In people of reproductive age, the location of stones, as a rule, are the kidneys and ureter, in elderly patients and children, urolithiasis (urolithiasis) affects the bladder. In addition, the acidified microflora is favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.

E. coli (Escherichia coli) usually shows the greatest activity. Escherichia coli is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause more than just severe poisoning. Excessive spread of E. coli can provoke: inflammation of the meninges (meningitis), pneumonia, hemolytic uremic syndrome, systemic blood poisoning (sepsis).

Alkalosis (alkalinization of urine) corresponds to indicators exceeding pH 7. In this case, there is a high probability of the formation of phosphates (alkaline calculi) in the renal pelvis and calyces. A feature of stones of phosphate origin is their forced growth. With untimely diagnosis, phosphates can only be removed surgically.

The alkaline environment inhibits the immune functions of the body, which contributes to the penetration and rapid development of bacterial infections of the bladder and kidneys. pH values ​​of 8 and above are recorded with bacteriuria (the presence of bacteria in the urine). The most dangerous infections include varieties of Streptococcus (staphylococcus aureus):

• Staphylococcus aureus - Staphylococcus aureus;
• Staphylococcus epidermidis - epidermal staphylococcus;
• Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a saprophytic staphylococcus.

Colonization of staphylococcal microorganisms in the urine leads to the development of bacterial cystitis and bacterial pyelonephritis.

Reasons for deviations from the norm

Alkalosis and acidosis are abnormal conditions for the body. This means that there are disorders in the body associated with physiological or pathological causes. The first category includes:

• irrational physical activity;
• features of eating behavior (unbalanced diet);
• excessive passion for alcoholic beverages;
• incorrect treatment with certain medications.

To restore normal pH, in this case, a change in the diet and lifestyle will help. An impaired acidity reaction may indicate the development of acute and chronic diseases. In this case, pathologies are not necessarily associated only with the urinary system.

acidification of urine

A low pH means an increased level of acidity in the urine. Most often, acidic urine accompanies metabolic disorders, in particular, people with diabetes suffer from this feature. And also a shift of values ​​to the left is observed in the following cases:

• an excess of saturated acids, protein foods and fats in the daily menu (meat, pastries, butter), as well as a passion for protein diets;
• electrolyte imbalance associated with a deficiency of potassium (hypokalemia) and chlorine (hypochloremia);
• inflammation of the walls of the bladder (cystitis);
• damage to the tubular system of the renal apparatus (pyelonephritis);
• extrapulmonary infection with Koch's bacillus (nephrotuberculosis);
• metabolic disorders (in particular, excessive formation or intake of acids);
• education in the urine ketone bodies(acetone), as a complication of diabetes;
• injuries of the pancreas, with the further formation of a pancreatic fistula;
• postoperative syndrome, after ureterosigmoidostomy (surgery on the ureters);
• chronic stool disorder (diarrhea);
• excessive use of alcoholic beverages;
• CRF (chronic renal failure);
• failure of the kidneys to excrete uric acid(as a consequence of the development of gout);
• urolithiasis and nephrolithiasis (the presence of urate stones in the organs of the urinary system);
• overdose of medical preparations of calcium and ammonium chloride;
• hypervitaminosis of ascorbic acid;
• intoxication of the body;
• adrenal dysfunction.
• intense physical activity (sports training).

A decrease in acidity values ​​can accompany oncohematological diseases, sepsis.

Alkalinization of urine

If the pH is elevated, it means that the urine is dominated by an alkaline environment. A high level of alkali indicates the development of acute conditions, the progression of chronic diseases, poor nutrition. There are the following causes of alkalization of urine:

• immuno-inflammatory damage to the glomeruli of the kidneys (glomerulus), otherwise glomerulonephritis;
• vegetarianism and veganism, vegetable-dairy diets with a minimum intake of protein foods and fats;
• abuse of table mineral water with a high content of alkali;
• decrease in the functionality of the adrenal glands for the production of hormones (hypocorticism and hypoaldosteronism);
• electrolyte imbalance against the background of an increased concentration of potassium (hyperglycemia);
• excessive activity of the parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism);
• hyperacid gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa, accompanied by increased acidity of gastric juice);
• pyelonephritis and cystitis of bacterial etiology (origin);
• dehydration (dehydration), due to repeated vomiting and diarrhea (symptoms of intoxication of the body);
• long-term treatment with neurotransmitters (Epinephrine hydrotartrate, Adrenaline);
• incorrect use of nicotinic acid preparations;
• exacerbation of gastric ulcer.

An alkaline reaction may be due to inflammatory dental diseases, due to a violation of the acid-base balance of the oral cavity. With stable deviations of the acid level (regardless of its increase or decrease), it is necessary to examine the kidneys, pass a general and biochemical blood test. If pathological changes are not detected, the diet, physical activity should be adjusted and alcoholic beverages should be abandoned.

Self determination of pH

It is impossible to objectively assess the level of urine acidity through a single analysis. In case of acidification or alkalization, it is necessary to monitor the pH. Mandatory self-assessment is indicated for people with chronic pathologies:

• diabetes;
• chronic pyelonephritis;
• respiratory and respiratory acidosis;
• chronic renal failure;
• metabolic alkalosis;
• nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis.

Test strips

The Uri-pH biosensor is a disposable paper strip packed in a plastic tube. The package contains a special test scale, according to which the result is deciphered. The scale range is from 5 to 9 units. The measurement algorithm is the following.

Collect 5–10 ml of urine in a sterile container (pharmaceutical container or pre-sterilized jar), open the tube and remove the strip with the indicator, immerse the test in the biofluid for a few seconds, remove the strip and put it on a dry surface. After a minute, evaluate the result by comparing the shade of the test and the color chart on the tube.

Each package of express analysis contains detailed instructions

The strips for express analysis are coated with a reagent that changes color when reacting with urine. Comparison of the color shade obtained on the strip with the color scale on the tube allows you to determine the acidity relative to the normal pH level in the urine (5–7 units). When the urine is acidified, the indicator turns yellow or turns pink. The lighter the color, the higher the acidity of the urine. Alkalinization changes the color of the indicator from blue-green to blue or dark green.

Reference! The color scale can have several variants of shades that are close to each other. This feature depends on the test manufacturer.

Magarshak analysis

This is the physical method. chemical analysis, based on the change in color of special solutions. A drop of a pre-prepared indicator is added to the urine, consisting of a 0.1% alcohol solution of neutral red and a methylene blue solution of the same concentration. The color of the resulting biofluid indicates the pH level. You can decipher the color indicator using the table:

Litmus indicator

Litmus paper is a universal indicator for determining the acidic and alkaline environment in any liquids. The indicator is based on the natural dyes azolitmin and erythrolithin. The pharmacy kit consists of two litmus papers (indicator strips). The method of use is identical to the test strips.

Both papers are placed in the container with urine, after 30 seconds the result is evaluated: if both strips remain of their original shade, then the reaction is neutral, the redness of the blue strip and the unchanged color of the red indicate acidification, the red strip turned blue, and the blue remained unchanged, it means alkalization . The disadvantage of the method is the inability to obtain an accurate digital pH value. The Uri-pH biosensor is a more informative method of evaluation.

portable pH meter

A special device designed to assess the acid level in various liquids. The analysis is based on the measurement of physical potentials in a biofluid by immersing a pair of electrodes into it. The scale of the mechanical device is graduated in pH. The electronic version of the pH meter is equipped with a screen that displays a specific digital value.

There are laboratory and portable devices. The latter option is suitable for patients who are forced to control the pH of their urine daily. The listed methods of self-control of acidity are suitable for both an adult patient and a child.

Results

Urine pH is a digital indicator of physical and chemical reactions that reflect the state of the acid-base balance in the body. Measurement of acidity is carried out during the general analysis of urine and is an important diagnostic criterion. Urine pH assessment allows timely detection of metabolic disorders, possible malfunctions of the renal apparatus and other organs of the urinary system.

The reference value of acidity is from 5 to 7 units. The difference in the values ​​​​of morning and evening urine does not apply to pathologies, since acid-base reactions largely depend on the foods and drinks consumed. Indicator 5 units. (and below) indicates acidification of urine. Seven or more units as a result of the analysis indicates alkalization.

Both of these conditions are abnormal. With a shift in pH, it is necessary to undergo an additional examination to determine the cause of the violation of the acid-base balance. To independently determine the level of urine acidity, the pharmacological industry produces special rapid tests in the form of strips.

The ph value in the urine indicates metabolism, kidney function, blood filtration, and indicates the nature of the excretory system. Deviations from the normative values ​​gives reason to assume pathological dysfunctions internal organs, dietary imbalance, excess of physiological loads, requires timely adjustment.

The Ph level in the urine (acidity) is determined by the content of hydrogen ions in urine, which are products of the breakdown of inorganic compounds. According to these indicators, a conclusion is made about the cleansing abilities of the kidneys, blood cleansing. Normally, the processed fluid secreted by the bladder consists of 96-97% urine, 3-4% salts, and nitrogenous compounds.

The excreted substances have acid-base characteristics. With the predominance of acid (ph below 5 units), urine is enrolled, alkali (ph over 8.0) is alkalized, the simultaneous excess of values ​​​​neutralizes urine due to the removal of minerals and organic compounds from bone tissues.

Acidity pH is normal

Ph urine (the norm in the adult population ranges on average from 5.1 to 7.1 units) during the day can change:

• in the morning - 5.2 - 5.8;
• in the afternoon - 6.4 - 6.8;
• in the evening - 6.5 - 7.

In men, the acidity value is lower (from 5.1 - 5.6 in the morning, from 6.1 to 6.6 in the evening).

A decrease by 0.4–0.6 is not a pathology for the male sex, it is associated with the predominance of protein foods in the daily diet (meat, egg white, high-fat cheese), we almost completely lack fruit and vegetable dishes, greens, an increased passion for heavy physical exertion, designed to build muscle mass.

For women, the normal ph ranges from 5.3 - 5.8 after waking up, from 6.7 to 7.2 before going to bed. Exceeding the numbers by 0.3-0.7 units. - a normal phenomenon, most often occurring in fans of a low-carbohydrate diet, a large intake of mineralized fluids.

In the analyzes of expectant mothers, readings from 4.5 to 8.1 units are found. The values ​​of acidity are influenced by hormonal changes in the body, changes in diet, and toxicosis. The indicated ph numbers are not considered a pathology when a woman feels well, they do not require medical adjustment.

Table of acidity values:

Age	Unit
children born before the line	4,7 – 5,5
newborns	5,4 – 6,1
2 month old breastfed babies	7,1 – 7,7
formula fed babies	5,6 – 7,0
from 2 years and older, adult population of both sexes	5,4 – 7,0
while waiting for a child	4,3 – 8,1

Reasons for lowering ph (acidification)

Acidification (aciduria) is manifested by a decrease in pH to 5.0 and below.

Occurs in the following cases:

For newborn babies, pH 5.0 is the norm. Does not require treatment, increases as the child grows older.

Aciduria, lasting more than 14-20 days, causes concern, gives reason to assume infectious pathologies of the genitourinary system, kidneys, the presence of stones, sand in the bladder.

Causes of an increase in ph (alkalinization)

pH in the urine, if changes from the norm of medical indications are noticed in the direction of increasing values, in medical practice it is defined by the term "Alcaluria", characterized by an increase in numbers from 8.0 or more units. This condition is often accompanied by severe headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, fainting.

Occurs when:

Alkalinization of urine comes with congenital pathologies of the kidneys, the endocrine system. In pregnant women, a pH value of 8.1 or more is a symptom of hormonal changes in the body, calcium deficiency caused by it, and toxicosis.

Indications for a general urinalysis

A general clinical diagnostic urine test is prescribed to monitor the internal state of the body, the functioning of the kidneys and the urinary system. Healthy people it is recommended to undergo the procedure for preventive purposes at least 1 time in 6-7 months.

Without fail, the therapist prescribes a study for:

During the therapeutic therapy of the kidneys, bladder, endocrine disorders OAM is prescribed at least 1 time per month. Pregnant women are tested once a month in the 1st and 2nd trimesters, once a week in the 3rd trimester.

How to pass the analysis

Urine pH (the norm of values ​​​​depends on the correct procedure for the preparation, collection and delivery of biological material) is determined during the test, following a special preparatory process.

He is such a:

• Urine is collected in a special container provided by a medical facility. To collect urine at home, a sterile flask is purchased at a pharmacy. If it is impossible to buy a container, you can use a glass container with a small lid, washed with soapy water and disinfected with boiling water. The urine collection container must be dry.
• During the day, natural dyes (carrots, beets), alcohol, diuretic herbal teas, decoctions, and medications are excluded from food, except when the analysis is carried out to control the passage of drug therapy.
• Women should not be tested during menstrual cycle due to the ingress of blood clots, giving reason to assume an incorrect diagnosis.
• Mandatory hygienic toilet of the genitals before urination. Females are advised to cover the vagina with a cotton pad to prevent bacteria from entering the urine.

Taking material:

How to determine ph at home

Ph urine (the norm of values, if necessary, is determined at home) is set in the following ways:

1.Litmus paper. To perform the test, strips of blue and red colors soaked in a special solution are used. It is necessary to lower them into a container with liquid alternately for 1-3 seconds. The removed paper is placed on a clean, dry surface, inaccessible to ultraviolet rays, with the reagent up.

The results of the study are studied after 3 minutes:

• unaltered shade of the indicator - neutral environment;
• color change of both stripes - acid-alkaline;
• blue red - alkaline;
• blue redness - sour.

The value of the ph numbers in this analysis cannot be established.

2. Magarshak method. 2 cap. urine is mixed with a 0.1% solution of red neutral and blue methylene alcohol. According to the color of the precipitate formed within 2 seconds, the ph level is set:

• dark purple - 6.2 - 6.5;
• light purple - 6.7 - 7.1;
• gray - 7.4.

3. Bromoethyl method. 3 cap. urine is diluted in 20 mg of bromoethyl indicator diluted with water. The value is set according to the color of the resulting liquid. The method is not valid.
4. ionometer- the most reliable option, which is a device placed in morning urine. Accurately determine the level of acidity in numbers, displaying readings on the monitor.

5.Indicator strips- the most common method used in home and laboratory conditions, which allows, by changing the shade of a plate impregnated with a reagent, to set the ph level from 4.9 to 9.1 units.

What are urine test strips

Urine pH (normal readings) is determined using indicator test strips, which are plates with a plastic or paper base, 5 by 6-13 cm in size, with a chemical reagent applied to them. Upon contact with hydrogen ions excreted in the urine, the indicator changes color, making it possible to set the acidity level in numbers from 4.9 to 9.1 ph.

The choice of drug depends on the suspected or established pathology. Depending on the required values ​​obtained during the analysis, single indicator strips impregnated with a single reagent or multi-indicator plates can be used - making it possible to simultaneously check the values ​​of several indicators.

The Home Study Kit contains:

• plastic cylindrical package with 25-150 reagent strips;
• detailed instructions for use;
• sorbent to remove excess liquid;
• tint scale to establish the results of the study (most often applied to the package body).

A home test is not able to fully change the clinical and laboratory procedure, but it provides an opportunity for self-monitoring of indications for corrective drug therapy of pathologies that have arisen.

Types of test strips

The indicator strips are:

1. By country manufacturer:

• Swiss "Mcral-Test"
• Korean "Uriscan";
• Russian "Biosernor", "Bioscan"
• Canadian "Multichech";
• American "UrineRS";

2. By the checked component:

• dextrose;
• ketones;
• bilirubin;
• protein;
• creatinine;
• urobilinogen
• acidity;
• leukocytes,
• erythrocytes
• structure density

3. By the number of applied reagents, in accordance with which it is possible control the values ​​of several indicators at once, such as:

• blood,
• protein;
• acidity level;
• nitrites;
• density;
• glucose;
• erythrocytes

Rules for using test strips

Urine pH is easy to determine using reagent test strips at home.

Preparation for the procedure:

Carrying out the procedure:

1. Carefully remove the strip from the plastic box.
2. Stir the urine, eliminating the sediment of salts.
3. Immerse the plate in the container for 1-3 seconds.
4. Remove the indicator, remove excess liquid sorbents, or by tapping the strip along the edge of the container.
5. Place the test on a dry surface with the reagent side up.
6. Assess the value of the indicators after 1-3 minutes. on a color scale: orange - 4.9-5.0; saturated yellow - 6.0; pale yellow - 6.5; light green - 7.0; pale green - 7.5; emerald - 8.0; swamp green - 8.5.
7. You should not exceed the waiting time for the result. Analysis values ​​can change significantly under the influence of air, ultraviolet radiation.

Acidity is determined 1 time in 3-4 days. It is advisable to conduct the study at the same time (immediately after getting up in the morning), since the numbers vary greatly during the day. With a shift in indicators for 2 weeks towards acidification or alkalization, it is necessary to seek advice from a general practitioner, undergo a comprehensive medical examination

Ways to Reduce and Increase Acidity

The normalization of indicators is facilitated by a change in the daily diet, the use of medications that correct dysfunctions of internal organs, the elimination of cholesterol-rich foods, food additives, and dyes from the diet.

When urine is acidified, a diet of neutral and negative acid foods is prescribed according to the PRAL scale (calculation of the potential acid load of the kidneys).

According to medical research, when a tendency to alkaduria appears, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of protein-containing foods, expand the amount of vegetables and fruits eaten per day, and prefer a drinking regimen that includes mineralized water without carbonation, containing potassium and magnesium molecules.

Negative acid food table:

Food	RRAL (mEq)
tomatoes	-3,2
onion	-1,6
zucchini	-3,3
spinach	-14
carrot	-4,8
celery	-5,3
potato	-4,3
cucumbers	-0,7
apples	-2,3
citrus	-2,6
kiwi	-4,3
apricots	-4,9
pears	-2,7
bananas	-5,3
raisin	-21
Strawberry	-2,3
black currant	-6,6
cherry	-3,5
watermelon	-1,3

Low-acid products include bread made from first-class and second-class flour - 3-12.

In addition to the diet, you need:

• Drink water daily on an empty stomach lemon juice, lime, apple cider vinegar.
• Persons suffering from hypertension should add 1⁄4 tsp to drinking. drinking soda.
• Remove desserts, sugar, artificial sweeteners, carbonated lemonade from the diet.
• Don't get carried away with fat meat products. Protein can be obtained from poultry, lean fish, soy, cheeses, tofu.
• Exclude the consumption of cholesterol-rich dishes, canned fish and meat, smoked delicacies, sausages, sausages.
• Include low-fat dairy products, cottage cheese in the diet.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Engage in moderate physiological stress, giving preference to running, swimming, dancing.
• Do not exceed the fluid intake, eliminate Coca-Cola, Sprite, Mirinda from the diet. These drinks help to remove calcium from the body.
• Drink a course of vitamins and minerals.
• Check the ph value at least once every 3-4 days. If the indications characteristic of alcaluria persist, a doctor's consultation, a detailed examination of the body, and correction of the identified internal pathologies are required.

A diet to normalize the level of acidity should consist of 80% alkaline-forming and 20% acid-forming foods.

For the treatment of dysfunctions of internal organs and systems, the normalization of the ph level in the urine is of great medical importance. With the timely detection of low or high indicators, an additional laboratory test, medical and nutritional adjustment is carried out.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the pH of urine

How to measure urine pH with test strips and the norm: