Alkaliuria

ALKALIURIA, alkaliuria (from Arabic alkali - soda, alkali), the excretion of alkaline urine (the urine of humans and carnivorous animals has an acidic reaction, in herbivores it is acidic or slightly alkaline). The alkalinity of urine is determined by actual alkalinity (concentration of OH- ions) and potential alkalinity. Due to the good buffering capacity of urine, there is no direct relationship between actual alkalinity and alkalinity determined by titration (NaOH). The alkalinity of urine is mainly due to dibasic phosphates. When their content in urine increases, their ratio with monobasic phosphates, which cause an acidic reaction, can become such that the reaction becomes amphoteric. An increase in urine alkalinity is observed when transitioning from a meat diet to a plant-based diet, during gastric secretion (due to the formation of hydrochloric acid from NaCl and CO₂ with the formation of carbonates, which, passing into the urine, cause an increase in alkalinity). Alkaliuria is also observed when taking alkaline and carbonated mineral waters, certain fruits and vegetables (potatoes), during heavy sweating (due to the excretion of acidic metabolic products with sweat), during warm baths, and in all cases of alkalosis (see). Alkaliuria is also noted when alkaline exudates are absorbed into the blood, when alkaline-reacting pus is mixed with urine, and in cases of cystitis depending on the decomposition of urea by bacteria with the formation of ammonium carbonate. Salts of alkaline urine, precipitating as sediments: ammonium magnesium phosphate, neutral calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, ammonium urate.