Urine pH

Urine pH measures how acidic or alkaline your urine is, offering insight into your diet, hydration, and kidney function.

📋 About This Biomarker

Urine pH measures how acidic or alkaline your urine is on a scale from 1 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, lower numbers mean more acidic, and higher numbers mean more alkaline (or basic). Your body naturally keeps your urine slightly acidic - usually between 4.5 and 8 - depending on what you eat, how hydrated you are, and how your kidneys are working. This marker gives insight into your body’s acid–base balance, your diet, and how well your kidneys are filtering. It also helps detect conditions like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or other imbalances in the body’s chemistry.

🎯 Why We Test This

Testing urine pH helps assess kidney health, the risk of kidney stones, and whether your body’s acid–base balance is in check. It’s especially helpful if you have symptoms of a UTI, are prone to stones, or are managing a condition like diabetes. It also acts as a clue when interpreting other urine test results.

⚠️ What Affects It

Urine pH can shift based on your diet (more acidic with meat-heavy diets, more alkaline with fruits and veggies), hydration, medications, and illness. It may also be influenced by urinary tract infections, kidney issues, or metabolic conditions. Even timing (morning vs afternoon) can cause small natural changes.

📈 How to Improve

To help bring your urine pH into a healthy range, balance your diet - aiming for a mix of fruits, veggies, and protein. Stay well-hydrated, as water helps your kidneys keep pH levels balanced. If your pH is very acidic or very alkaline, and especially if you’re prone to stones or infections, your healthcare provider may suggest specific dietary changes or supplements. For borderline results, making small shifts in what you eat and drink is often enough to maintain balance.

📊 Understanding Your Results

Low (< 4)
A low urine pH (more acidic) can happen if you eat a lot of meat, are dehydrated, have diabetes, or are experiencing diarrhoea or starvation-like states. If it stays low for long periods, it may increase the risk of uric acid or cystine kidney stones. In some medical conditions, the body produces too much acid, which is then dumped into the urine.
Optimal (4 - 9)
A urine pH within the normal range means your body is balancing acid and base levels properly, and your kidneys are doing their job well. This is a good sign that your internal chemistry is in harmony, and no obvious issues are showing up through this marker. If your pH is slightly higher than usual, it might simply reflect your diet or hydration level, especially if you’ve had lots of veggies or citrus fruits. It’s usually not a concern on its own, but it can be a helpful clue when looked at alongside other urine results. A slightly more acidic urine pH is usually not a concern and may reflect a protein-heavy diet or natural morning variation. However, if other urine markers are abnormal, it may point to the early signs of a metabolic or kidney-related issue.
High (> 9)
A higher urine pH (more alkaline) can occur if you have a UTI caused by certain bacteria, if you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, or if you take medications like antacids. In some cases, it can also be linked to kidney problems or a condition where the body loses too much acid. Very high urine pH might also increase the risk of certain types of kidney stones (like calcium phosphate stones).