What to make of the pH level of urine?

Brittany Pierce
Brittany Pierce
September 23, 2022
5
min read
Technically reviewed by: 
H. Ali, Ph.D.
What to make of the pH level of urine?

The pH level indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A balanced pH environment is paramount to the proper functioning of all physiological processes and organs. Let's discover what the pH of urine means and what it suggests about our health.

Urine pH can help determine how effectively kidneys regulate the pH balance in the body. When combined with other urine parameters, urinary pH helps diagnose several health conditions, e.g., problems with the urinary tract, kidneys, and metabolic disorders.

What is the normal pH level of urine?

The urine constitutes water, salts, and other waste products from the kidneys. The normal pH levels in urine are between 6 and 7.5 for most people. This is generally considered on the slightly acidic to neutral side; however, it can fluctuate depending on different conditions, exercise, and diet patterns.

The morning urine is slightly acidic (pH of 5.0 – 6.0), while the pH of urine following a meal is relatively alkaline (also referred to as alkaline tide).

Generally, any number in the range of 4.5 to 8.0 is not a cause for concern. However, chronically acidic urine could indicate underlying health issues or diseases.

It is essential to know that while pH alone may not provide all answers to bodily function, when combined with other urine parameters, it helps diagnose several health conditions, e.g., problems with the urinary tract or kidneys.

The pH scale. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. A pH of less than 7 is considered acidic. A pH value greater than 7 makes a substance alkaline.

What affects pH levels in urine?

The pH level of urine is primarily affected by the food we eat. Research shows that if a person's diet is high in animal protein and grains, the pH of urine is on the lower side, i.e., urine is more acidic. A diet rich in greens and vegetables, such as kale, spinach, celery, etc., will lead to alkaline urine (pH>7). A balanced diet that incorporates legumes, grains, animal/plant protein sources, greens, vegetables, and fruits will keep the overall metabolic system happy and yield a pH within the normal range.

In healthy individuals, diet is the major factor that affects urine pH. A diet rich in animal proteins makes your urine acidic, and a diet rich in greens and veggies will lead to alkaline urine

Causes of Acidic Urine

Specific health conditions and general causes of acidic urine are:

  • Acidocis of respiratory or metabolic origin
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Starvation and dehydration
  • Diarrhea
  • Presence of acid-producing bacteria
  • Emphysema (lung condition that causes shortness of breath)
  • High protein diet
  • Cranberry Juice
  • Medications such as Mandelamine and Monurol (commonly prescribed for the treatment of UTIs).

Causes of Alkaline Urine

Health conditions and other causes of alkaline urine are:

  • Alkalosis of respiratory or metabolic origin
  • Hyperventilation (rapid or deep breathing, usually caused by anxiety or panic)
  • Vomiting
  • Renal or tubular acidosis
  • Presence of urease-producing bacteria  (that causes UTIs)
  • Vegetarian diet rich in leafy greens

Why take a urine pH test?

The urine pH test provides insight into how our bodies metabolize our food. In addition, it gives clues about the health of the kidneys, metabolic system, and urinary tract.

The clinical significance and benefits of monitoring urinary pH are to aid in determining the existence of systemic acid-base disorders of metabolic or respiratory origin and in managing urinary conditions that require urine to be maintained at a specific pH.

Consistently abnormal urine pH levels can indicate ongoing health conditions or be a precursor to a disease that has not produced physical symptoms.

Scientific studies indicate that a urine pH test is beneficial for the following health conditions:

  • Monitor kidney function: The urine pH can indicate if the kidneys are correctly removing or reabsorbing acid or base from the body to regulate a healthy pH environment in the body.
  • Forestall the risks of kidney stones: An acidic urinary environment is constructive for the formation of renal calculi. Therefore, maintaining alkaline urine discourages the formation of kidney stones.
  • Accelerate the treatment of Urinary Tract Infections: An acidic urine is valuable in treating UTIs as it hinders the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. UTI medications and cranberry juice create an acidic urinary medium that inhibits the colonization of specific urinary pathogens.
  • Monitor diet: A urine pH test is an excellent means to monitor the effect of dietary changes on health. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets (such as ketogenic and Atkins diets) can confer a marked acid load resulting in an increased risk of kidney stones and other diseases.
  • Evaluate treatment effectiveness: The efficacy of medications and treatment regimens (e.g., for kidney diseases, metabolic or renal disorders) can be monitored by measuring urine pH.
  • Risk assessment of various diseases: Scientific studies indicate a positive correlation between acidic urine with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and kidney stones in gout patients, among other conditions.
  • Improving diet and lifestyle choices: Monitoring urine pH can help mitigate the risks of diseases and abnormalities that have yet to produce any physical symptoms.

Acidic urine creates a constructive environment for kidney stones. Hence, a doctor would use this result to set a direction for further testing for a more conclusive picture of your health. Regular monitoring of your urine's pH level can provide insights into your health and well-being. If the results are not within the normal range, you can ask yourself what led to the observed findings.

Consistently abnormal pH levels of urine can indicate ongoing health conditions or be a precursor to a disease that has not produced physical symptoms. So knowing the pH level of your urine can be helpful in regulating diet, monitoring ongoing health conditions, and keeping an eye on your health and well-being. However, it is essential to know that this test cannot be used in isolation to diagnose any condition. For instance, a high pH could indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a different kind of infection.

How to undertake a urine pH test?

The pH of any substance can either be measured by an electronic pH meter or by using a reagent test strip. A urine pH test is most often conducted using the latter, i.e., a reagent dipstick test. Urine test strips for pH are similar in principle to a litmus paper test but are configured explicitly for body fluids within the pH range of urine. The reagent pad of the dipstick, when immersed in the urine sample, changes color in response to the composition of the urine. It is a quick and simple test with results ready for interpretation within 60 seconds.

Testing for pH levels in urine does not require any special preparation. It is common practice for a doctor to check any medications or supplements that a person might be taking, as they can interfere with the test results.

A doctor may also request a person to fast before this test. However, this is only likely if there are other urinalysis tests involved.

An at-home urine dipstick test can help track pH level of urine easily and discreetly.

How to interpret the results of a urine pH test?

A digital pH meter provides a numerical result, typically on an LCD. The reagent test strips produce different colors depending on the pH of the urine. By visually checking and comparing the color of the reagent pad with the color key provided by the test, the pH of the urine can be easily determined.

For example, the Diagnox urine test strips change color from orange and yellow to shades of green with increasing pH values. A bright yellow-green color on the reagent pad indicates a neutral pH of 7. The urine is considered acidic if the reagent pad changes to shades of yellow and orange. Alkaline urine produces green, sea-green, and bluish-green shades on the reagent pad. The test is sensitive to the pH range of urine and can be easily incorporated into your wellness regime.

Urinox-10 multiparameter urine dipstick test by Diagnox measures the pH level of urine in addition to nine other parameters.
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What do high pH levels in urine mean?

If a person has high pH levels in their urine, it means the urine is alkaline. While alkaline urine is mainly due to a diet high in greens and vegetables, it may signal the following medical conditions:

  • kidney stones
  • urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • kidney-related disorders

Higher pH in urine can be caused due to prolonged vomiting as well. Vomiting rids the body of stomach acid, which can consequently make the body fluids more alkaline.

Acidic urine is usually attributed to a diet rich in animal protein.

What do low pH levels in urine mean?

A lower pH level of urine indicates that it is acidic. Mildly acidic urine is generally not of concern. Moderately acidic urine is usually attributed to a diet rich in animal protein. However, consistently elevated levels of urine pH level create a constructive environment for kidney stones to form, which is why it is vital to regulate the diet and keep track of urine pH levels. A low pH level of urine might indicate the following medical conditions:

  • diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes)
  • diarrhea
  • starvation

The lower pH levels in the urine can also occur due to certain medications, supplements, and herbs.

How to improve low urine pH levels?

The urine pH level can be naturally improved by eating foods that are alkaline in nature and drinking water that is ionized and alkaline. However, you should investigate if you have health problems that are causing the low pH level in urine in the first place. A balanced diet consisting of proteins from various animal and plant sources, vegetables, greens, fruits, legumes, grains, nuts, and oils/fats ensures that you provide your body with diverse inputs and food choices. Diversity in the diet can help to regulate the pH of urine.

A balanced diet of whole foods and diverse sources will help to regulate the pH of body and urine in the normal range.

Diversify your diet to incorporate various protein sources, fruits, and vegetables to achieve a balanced pH in the body.

How often should the pH of urine be tested?

A simple answer is as often as desired. It can be conducted several times a day to determine how a specific food choice impacted the pH level of urine or a couple of times a week or month to determine how well your body is regulating your urine's pH level. Off-the-shelf urine test strips are non-invasive, simple, painless, and very affordable for routine pH testing of urine. There is no harm in testing regularly. It can help you make more guided choices in your diet while keeping an eye on your overall health and disease management.

Conclusion

Consider your body as a system. The input to this system is what we eat, drink, breathe, and absorb from the environment around us. This system processes it and produces output in the form of energy and waste products. We can learn a lot about the system's health by analyzing the output. For example, if you are constantly feeling lethargic, it implies either the input is insufficient, or the body is not functioning right to produce the needed energy. Similarly, the fluids we consume are processed and excreted out as urine; by analyzing the composition and properties of urine, we can gather immense knowledge about the state of our bodies and even get to know about abnormalities that have yet to produce any physical symptoms. Isn't that cool and fascinating?

Happy Living!

Care to know - Know to care.

References
  1. UCSF Health Staff, “Urine pH Test,” Medical Tests, University of California San Francisco, Accessed June 8, 2022.
  2. Mount Sinai Staff, “Urine pH Test,” Mount Sinai Health Library, Accessed June 8, 2022.
About the Author
Brittany Pierce

Brittany Pierce is a healthcare content writer with a degree in nutrition. Her passion for nutrition, holistic health, and diet drives her career as she believes that food is medicine. Brittany is excited to be working with Diagnox, a leading healthcare company, as she feels that this job perfectly matches her career and personal aspirations. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her dogs and learning about new ways to improve her own health and well-being.

With a strong foundation in nutrition and a dedication to improving the overall health and well-being of individuals, Brittany is committed to delivering high-quality content that empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health. She is excited to continue her work with Diagnox and contribute to the company's mission of providing exceptional healthcare services.

About the Reviewer
This blog was
Technically reviewed by: 
H. Ali, Ph.D.

Hussnain Ali received his Ph.D. degree in EE in 2015 from the University of Texas at Dallas, USA. He is the co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Diagnox Health, Plano, TX 75024, USA, and a visiting research scientist at the University of Texas at Dallas. His academic and industry experience spans over 15 years in organizations like the Center for Advanced Research in Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, and Harman/Samsung. He has served as a co-PI on an RO1 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). His research interests include biomedical devices, auditory rehabilitation, and cochlear implants. He has authored and co-authored over 70 international publications and has been awarded multiple US patents. His latest work at Diagnox encompasses the development of innovative healthcare and wellness products/solutions that provide convenient and affordable at-home screening/diagnosis. He aims to bridge conventional clinical diagnostic products with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and contemporary data-centric technologies to modernize the healthcare and wellness industry.

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