Question

In diabetic patients, the pH of blood plasma can decrease leading to acidosis. This is because tissues catabolize

• A. Amino acids leading to loss of buffering capacity of the blood.
• B. Stored glycogen leading to the accumulation of pyruvic acid.
• C. Stored fatty acids leading to the accumulation of beta-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid.
• D. Nucleic acid pool leading to decrease in blood pH.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Stored fatty acids leading to the accumulation of beta-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid.

Acidosis is a process causing increased acidity in the blood and other body tissues. It usually refers to acidity of the blood plasma. It occurs when the body produces too much acid or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body.

Ketoacidosis is a metabolic state associated with high concentrations of ketone bodies, formed by the breakdown of stored fatty acids and the deamination of amino acids. The two common ketones produced in humans are acetoacetic acid and β-hydroxybutyrate. Ketoacidosis is most common in untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus. In ketoacidosis, the body fails to regulate ketone production causing a severe accumulation of keto acids so that the pH of the blood is substantially decreased.

So, the answer is C.