Alkaline tide is a temporary increase in urine alkalinity and blood pH after eating due to stomach acid entering the stomach. Prolonged vomiting can lead to a more pronounced effect. Parietal cells in the stomach cause the tide by exchanging bicarbonate for chloride ions. The body neutralizes the tide through the pancreatic duct.
Scientists use the term alkaline tide to refer to the phenomena of increased alkalinity in the urine and the level of hydrogen (pH) in the blood after eating. The physiological effects of tide occur when stomach acid, released to aid in the digestion of food, enters the stomach. The increase in blood pH is a temporary effect since it will only occur until the acid in the food in the small intestine combines with the bicarbonate, which is produced while the food is present in the stomach.
When you vomit, your body makes additional stomach acid to replace that lost during excretion. Because of this displaced effect, prolonged bouts of vomiting can lead to a more pronounced alkaline tidal effect. The parietal cells present in the stomach and gastrointestinal system actually cause the alkaline tide. When these cells become overactive due to excessive stimulation, the increase in acid excretion causes the pH level to rise.
In each parietal cell there is an extensive network, designed specifically for secretion and known as canaliculi. It is through these canaliculi that gastric acid is delivered to the stomach. The acid is transported to the stomach via the enzyme potassium hydrogen ATPase. This enzyme is unique and specific to parietal cells and transports acid in a concentration of approximately one part per three million.
During the digestive process, hydrochloric acid is formed through the combination of hydrogen and chloride ions. The parietal cells in the stomach extract chloride, sodium, water and carbon dioxide, replacing them with bicarbonate to maintain the electrical balance of the plasma. It is this level of bicarbonate that causes blood leaving the stomach, known as venous, to possess higher alkalinity than arterial blood entering the stomach. Alkaline tide occurs when cells exchange a bicarbonate ion for a chloride ion, diffusing the bicarbonate into the venous blood.
When an alkaline tide occurs after digestion or a bout of vomiting, the body works quickly to counteract the effects. The pancreatic duct acts to neutralize the tide by depositing bicarbonate, while pumping hydrogen ions into the bloodstream. This action then neutralizes the bicarbonate produced in the stomach. It is because of this corrective action taken by the gastrointestinal system that the effects of alkaline tide are commonly experienced for only a relatively short period of time.
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