Causes of Metabolic Acidosis

Metabolic acidosis is a health condition that affects a person's metabolism because there is too much acid in the body, usually because the kidneys fail to filter it out of your system properly. Just as there are many causes, there are different types of metabolic acidosis.

Diabetes

• One form of metabolic acidosis, diabetic acidosis, is also called diabetic ketoacidosis and DKA. It develops when acidic substances build up because of uncontrolled diabetes.

Loss of Sodium

• One form of the condition results when too much sodium bicarbonate is lost from the body, as can happen with severe diarrhea.

Too Much Lactic Acid in the Body

• Lactic acidosis, a form of metabolic acidosis, is a buildup of lactic acid in the body. It can be caused by a number of things, such as alcohol, exercising, liver failure, cancer, some medications, seizures and low blood sugar.

Kidney Disease

• Any kidney disease can cause a person's kidneys to fail in filtering acids from the body, leaving a person with a pH imbalance.

Poisoning

• Swallowing toxic substances such as antifreeze or excessive amounts of aspirin or methanol also can lead to metabolic acidosis.

Severe Dehydration

• The kidneys need water to function properly, and when the body becomes dehydrated, it can weaken the kidneys and causes them to malfunction.