QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Schuck, C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Schuck, C.

Urinary Excretion of Citric Acid

II. Effect of Ingestion of Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate and Sodium Bicarbonate

Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Home Economics, The University of Chicago, Chicago

A study made with six women subjects of the effect of citric acid, sodium citrate and sodium bicarbonate on the urinary excretions of citric acid is here reported. The effect on urinary pH, titratable acidity, and excretion of total organic acids was also observed.

The following results were obtained with chemically equivalent amounts of citric acid and sodium citrate:

1. The citric acid produced little or no change in the pH of the urine; the sodium citrate brought about a marked increase.

2. The titratable acidity was slightly decreased as a result of the ingestion of citric acid, while the sodium citrate brought about a marked decrease.

3. Total organic acid excretion was decreased by the citric acid, but greatly increased by the sodium citrate.

4. Citric acid excretion was decreased in some cases and increased in others as a result of the citric acid ingestion while the sodium citrate brought about a marked increase in every case. The results here are in agreement with those obtained by Östberg.

5. The total organic acids and citric acid excreted as a result of the ingestion of sodium citrate amounted to two to three times the excretion on the basal diet.

The increase in pH and the decrease in titratable acidity brought about when sodium bicarbonate was fed were accompanied by a small increase in total organic acids and a considerable increase in citric acid excretion. Increase in total organic acid excretion on ingestion of sodium bicarbonate has been noted in the past, and, more recently, like observations have been made on citric acid excretion.

Apparently, citric acid excretion is not dependent upon citric acid ingestion.

Increased evidence is presented here for the view that citric acid is one of the organic acids which plays a part in acid-base balance regulation.