Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!aecom!werner
From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: carbonated beverages and urinary pH
Message-ID: <1974@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 02:37:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: aecom.1974
Posted: Thu Oct 24 02:37:03 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 25-Oct-85 07:44:17 EDT
References: <787@bbncc5.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 34

> I was wondering if an MD or renal physiologist could comment on the
> effect of carbonated beverages on the pH of urine.  Are such beverages
> considered a good source of bicarbonate ion?  If so, would they be expected
> to increase the pH of the urine?
> -- 
> /Steve Dyer
[I'm not an MD (*), but I play one on CRT]      (* yet)

	Something to this effect was asked once before (the actual question was
whether the Cabonation of beverages adds to the calories).

	Bicarbonate ion is primarily the result of the combination of C02
(Carbon Dioxide and Water).  That's how the drinks are fizzed - a little
bubbly C02.  That is also how all the air you breath out is carried in the 
Venous blood.

	About the ONLY way known to increase blood Bicarbonate levels is to
stop breathing.  Eating half a box of baking soda might do it too.  However,
eating half a box of baking soda will raise URINE bicarbonate by the simple
rule of Bicarb in = Bicarb out  (a simple correlary of the First Rule of
Renal physiology - you don't consume beer, you borrow it.)

	About the original question, Carbonated beverages are not a good source
of bicarbonate. As soon as the Bicarb hits the acid stomach, it turns into
CO2 (a gas) and H20 and you belch it. Even if it got in, you would breath it
out the lungs as quick as you drink it, which is not very quick for the total
amount.
	Paradoxically, it might lower Urine bicarb concentrations because the
extra 12 ounces of Soda will dilute the Urine, but so would 12 ounces of H2O.
-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
                     "The end. 94. 95. The very, very, very end."