Acidic urine can result from several underlying medical conditions. It's crucial to understand that acidic urine itself isn't a disease, but rather a symptom indicating an imbalance in the body's acid-base equilibrium. Several factors can contribute to this imbalance.
Common Causes of Acidic Urine:
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Kidney Disease: Impaired kidney function prevents the efficient removal of acids from the bloodstream, leading to an accumulation of acids and subsequent acidic urine. This includes both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. [Source: Your kidneys can't properly filter acids from your bloodstream. Kidney disease, kidney failure, untreated diabetes, loss of bicarbonate and blood poisoning may cause a more acidic pH in your body.]
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Metabolic Acidosis: This condition arises when the body produces too much acid, fails to eliminate enough acid, or both. Metabolic acidosis significantly impacts urine pH. [Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24492-metabolic-acidosis; https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/metabolic-acidosis; https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/metabolic-acidosis]
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Untreated Diabetes (Diabetic Ketoacidosis): Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to the production of excessive ketones, resulting in ketoacidosis and acidic urine. [Source: Your kidneys can't properly filter acids from your bloodstream. Kidney disease, kidney failure, untreated diabetes, loss of bicarbonate and blood poisoning may cause a more acidic pH in your body; https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/urine-ph-test; https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/ketones-in-urine/]
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Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA): This is a specific type of kidney disorder where the kidneys cannot effectively excrete acids into the urine. [Source: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/medical-tests/urine-ph-test]
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Starvation: Prolonged periods without food can lead to metabolic acidosis and thus acidic urine. [Source: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/urine-ph-test; https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/urine-ph]
Other Contributing Factors:
Certain medications, high-protein diets, and some diseases like gout and leukemia can also influence urine pH, making it more acidic. [Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/urine-ph; https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10659234/]
It's essential to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment if you have concerns about your urine pH. They can identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate interventions.
