The Effects of Alkalosis upon Ketone Body Production and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Man

Abstract

Available evidence from animal investigation suggests that changes in pH can alter carbohydrate and ketone metabolism. Guest and Rawson (1) observed a distinct inverse relationship between blood sugar content and pH in rats. In the fasting animal, alkalosis was found to enhance ketosis and decrease liver glycogen (2). In human studies, Beumer and Soecknick (3) and Porges and Lip- schiutz (4) noted the early appearance of ace- tonuria in patients on subcaloric diets treated with sodium bicarbonate.