Orthoplex Gastric Buffer #1453270957

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Acid -Base Buffer Systems
The regulation of body fluid pH is dependent on buffer systems. These buffer systems are required to combine excess acids or alkalis to prevent or minimise changes in pH from occurring. A buffer system consists of a weak acid and the alkali salt of that acid, or a weak base and its acid salt. In the process of preventing large changes in pH, the system trades a strong acid for a weak acid or a strong base for a weak base. There are three major buffer systems that protect the pH of body fluids:

1. The bicarbonate buffer system
2. The phosphate buffer system
3. Protein buffers

In the bicarbonate buffer system, the bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) acts as a weak base and can remove excess H+, and carbonic acid (H2CO3) acts as a weak acid and can provide H+ if there is a shortage. Subsequently, H2CO3 dissociates into water and carbon dioxide in the lungs and the CO2 is exhaled.

The phosphate buffer system works via the same mechanism as the bicarbonate system with the dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4-) acting as a weak acid and the monohydrogen phosphate ion (HPO42-) acting as a weak base. Because the concentration of phosphates is highest in intracellular fluid, the phosphate buffer system is an important regulator of pH in the cytosol. It also acts to a small degree in extracellular fluids and acts to buffer acids in urine.

Athletic Endurance
Sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate have been shown to enhance performance when consumed before high-intensity events. A gain of 1-2% is possible in events lasting a few minutes, and similar gains are likely in events of up to an hour. The substances work by helping to neutralize the lactic acid produced by active muscles.

During high-intensity exercise, muscle hypoxia causes the production of lactic acid via anaerobic respiration. A build-up of lactic acid inside the muscle cells is one of the factors responsible for fatigue. Reducing the build-up of acid should reduce fatigue and allow the athlete to go faster or further.

The body's defences against an increase in acidity are the bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein "buffers", which help to neutralize the acid produced by intense exercise. Attempts to enhance performance by increasing the effectiveness of the buffers have focused mainly on bicarbonate. Taking a sufficient quantity of sodium bicarbonate before a high-intensity event should make the muscles and blood less acidic during the event and should enhance physical performance.

Digestive dysfunction
Pancreatic secretions play a significant and fundamental role in digestion and assimilation particularly of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Pancreatic juice, which ranges in volume from 200 to 800 mL per day, contains two major components, bicarbonate ions and digestive enzymes. The two components occur in variable proportions depending on the stimuli. The bicarbonate ions make pancreatic juice alkaline. This alkaline fluid functions to neutralise acids entering the duodenum, increasing the pH of the intestinal contents.

Bicarbonate losses occur with the loss of bicarbonate-rich body fluids or when there is an excess of chloride ions. Intestinal secretions have a high bicarbonate concentration. Consequently, excessive losses of bicarbonate occur with severe diarrhoea. In diarrhoea of microbial origin, bicarbonate is secreted into the bowel to neutralize the metabolic acids that are produced by the microorganisms causing the diarrhoea.