- Patient/Guest
- Phlebotomist
- Updates
pH Level; Stool | 90 |
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Stool
pH is dependent in part on fermentation of sugars. Colonic fermentation of
normal amounts of carbohydrate sugars and production of fatty acids accounts
for the normally slightly acidic pH. |
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Synonym | pH Stool, Faecal pH | |
Test Code | ||
Test Type | Clinical Pathology | |
Pre-Test Condition | No special | |
Report Availability | Daily | |
# Test(s) | 1 | |
Test details | Sample Report |
---|---|
pH Level; Stool |
Synonym | pH Stool, Faecal pH | ||
Test Code | |||
Test Category | Clinical Pathology | ||
Pre-Test Condition | No special | ||
Medical History | Share if any | ||
Report Availability | Daily | ||
Specimen/Sample | Stool | ||
Stability @21-26 deg. C | NA | ||
Stability @ 2-8 deg. C | NA | ||
Stability @ Frozen | NA | ||
# Test(s) | 1 | ||
Processing Method | Bio-Chemical |
Clinical Significant Stool
pH is dependent in part on fermentation of sugars. Colonic fermentation of
normal amounts of carbohydrate sugars and production of fatty acids accounts
for the normally slightly acidic pH.
Stool
Ph Result - Low -Low
pH may be caused by poor absorption of carbohydrate or fat.
-
A stool pH below 6.0 may be the result of a rapid transit time e.g., diarrhoea,
loose stools. If this is the case further investigations may be required to
determine the cause which could be anything from food allergy or intolerance,
bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection, or irritable bowel syndrome (assuming
serious bowel disorders have been ruled out previously).
-
A low pH may also be the result of small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in
which numbers of normal bacteria in the small intestine are present in much
higher numbers than normal. This can result from a high carbohydrate diet, low
stomach acid or reduced gut immunity, and is common in chronic fatigue
syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For a fast transit
time the underlying cause needs to be addressed and treatment therefore varies.
SIBO needs to be treated with antibiotic drugs or supplements, or both, and a
low carbohydrate diet adopted.
-
An acidic stool can indicate a digestive problem such as lactose intolerance or
a contagion such as E. coli or rotavirus, or overgrowth of the acid producing
bacteria (such as lactic acid bacteria for instance).
-
Children and some adults notice that their stools have a sickly-sweet smell as
the result of volatile fatty acids and the presence of undigested lactose. Low
stool pH also contributes to the excoriation of perianal skin which frequently
accompanies the diarrhoea.
Stool
Ph Result -Too High The
most common causes of a high (alkaline) stool pH are deficiency of beneficial
bacteria and therefore SCFAs and a diet that is lacking in fibre. This
situation needs to be corrected with probiotic supplements and a high fibre
diet as pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria and yeast (e.g., Candida)
tend to thrive in an alkaline intestinal environment. Some types of fibre
including wheat bran, oat bran, and prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides
(FOS) appear particularly good at lowering intestinal pH.
Slightly
alkaline pH may occur in cases of secretory diarrhoea without food intake,
colitis, villous adenoma, and possibly with antibiotic usage (with resultant
impaired colonic fermentation).
High
faecal pH may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Intake of oat bran
(75−100 g/day over a 14-day period) has been shown capable of reducing faecal
pH by 0.4 units. There is evidence, however, that high faecal pH may be
secondarily rather than primarily related to cancer risk. |