Fundamentals of Nursing Q 475
The purpose of increasing urine acidity through dietary means is to:
A. Decrease burning sensations
B. Change the urine’s color
C. Change the urine’s concentration
D. Inhibit the growth of microorganisms
Correct Answer: D. Inhibit the growth of microorganisms
Microorganisms usually do not grow in an acidic environment. A diet high in citrus fruits, vegetables, or dairy products can increase urine pH. A diet high in meat products or cranberries can decrease urine pH. The acidity of urine — as well as the presence of small molecules related to diet — may influence how well bacteria can grow in the urinary tract, a new study shows. The research, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, may have implications for treating urinary tract infections, which are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide.
Option A: Henderson and his team, including first author Robin R. Shields-Cutler, a graduate student in Henderson’s lab, were interested in studying how the body naturally fights bacterial infections. They cultured E. coli in urine samples from healthy volunteers and noted major differences in how well individual urine samples could harness a key immune protein to limit bacterial growth. The urine samples that prevented bacterial growth supported more activity of this key protein, which the body makes naturally in response to infection, than the samples that permitted bacteria to grow easily. The protein is called siderocalin, and past research has suggested that it helps the body fight infection by depriving bacteria of iron, a mineral necessary for bacterial growth.
Option B: Importantly, the researchers also showed that they could encourage or discourage bacterial growth in urine simply by adjusting the pH, a finding that could have implications for how patients with UTIs are treated.
Option C: Indeed, their results implicate cranberries among other possible dietary interventions. Shield-Cutler noted that many studies already have investigated extracts or juices from cranberries as UTI treatments but the results of such investigations have not been consistent. “It’s possible that cranberries may be more effective when paired with a treatment to make the urine less acidic,” Henderson said. “And even then, maybe cranberries only work in people who have the right gut microbes.”