Basenbalans

Basenbalans is the balance between acids and bases in the body’s fluids and is essential for maintaining the blood’s pH within a narrow range that supports normal metabolic processes. The body relies on buffering systems (notably bicarbonate, phosphate, and proteins), respiratory control of carbon dioxide, and renal handling of acids and bases to preserve homeostasis. In healthy people, arterial blood pH is kept around 7.35–7.45. The base excess and related arterial blood gas measurements summarize the overall base balance in the body.

Disturbances of basenbalans can arise from metabolic changes that alter bicarbonate or non-volatile acids, or from respiratory changes that affect CO2 levels. Terms such as metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, and respiratory alkalosis describe these states, each with potential compensatory responses from the lungs or kidneys. Severe or prolonged disturbances may indicate underlying conditions such as kidney disease, respiratory failure, diabetes, or exposure to toxins, and require medical evaluation.

Diet can influence urine pH and the buffering demand in the body, and some sources promote alkaline diets as a means to improve basenbalans. In healthy individuals, however, dietary changes generally do not shift blood pH significantly; bloodstream pH is tightly regulated. The concept of basenbalans is most relevant to clinically significant acid-base disorders rather than to everyday nutrition.

See also: acid-base balance, buffering systems, arterial blood gas, metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis.