Urinalysis - pH
Introduction
The urine of healthy people is usually slightly acidic or alkaline. The values of urine pH may range from 4.4 to 9.0; however, in healthy individuals it is generally between 4.5 and 7.5.
The value of urine pH depends on the diet, metabolic balance, diseases, and presence of various drugs. An acidic reaction is due to primary phosphates and urates, and alkaline reaction to secondary and tertiary phosphates and alkaline carbonates. A protein-rich diet increases urine pH, because protein and amino acid decomposition results in the formation of numerous acidic phosphate and sulfate salts. In vegetable based diet, the urine is alkaline because of organic acids of vegetable origin that are converted to H2CO3 and water. Urine pH changes in some diseases, e.g. in infectious diseases with elevated body temperature, or in starvation where urine pH decreases due to intrinsic protein decomposition, or in vomiting where urine pH increases due to the massive acid loss. An alkaline reaction of the urine may also be a consequence of urinary tract infection (urine pH 7-8). If diurnal urine pH continually ranges between 7 and 8, it strongly points to a urinary tract infection.
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