pH and titratable acidity of amino acid mixtures used in hyperalimentation

The pH and titratable acidity of three amino acid mixtures used in hyperalimentation were determined and compared with those of eight common intravenous solutions. Although the mean pH of the two groups was similar, the mean titratable acidity of the three amino acid mixtures (30.54 mEq/liter) was markedly higher than that of the eight intravenous solutions (0.13 mEq/liter). The high titratable acidity of the amino acid mixtures could be a major factor in the development of metabolic acidosis in hyperalimented infants. The titratable acidity of the eight intravenous solutions did not differ significantly from that of water blanks (0.16 mEq/liter).