Biochemistry 1551, 2018 Project p and pa c. In end-stage liver disease, the live

Question

Biochemistry 1551, 2018 Project p and pa c. In end-stage liver disease, the liver's ability to detoxify ammonia is greatly decreased Lactulose is a soluble fiber commonly administered to these patients with the goal of minimizing absorption of colonic ammonia. Metabolism of lactulose by colonic bacteria reduces the plH of the colon from the normal physiological plt of-6.0-6.5. i Calculate the percent of the absorbable form (e'ther NiHs or N1H4) that would result w ithin the colon at ? pH of 5.1. Please show your calculation for full credit. (1 point) Using the calculations above, explain how treatment with lactulose provides a therapeutic benefit of decreasing plasma levels of ammonia. (1 point) ii.

Explanation / Answer

?The absorbable form of Ammonia is NH3 . We know that ammonia is a weak base & tha pka is around 9 and the physiological pH is 6-6.5 so, we know if the pH of the medium is less than the pka then weak bases will be more ionised, i.e. more NH4+ . Calculating in Henderson- Hasselbach equation we can calculate that at pH 6.5, 1% is non ionised form and at the given pH of 5.1, 0.1% is non ionised form. The exact mode of action of lactulose is conversion of lactic acid and acetic acid and thus decreasing the pH of the gut. From the above alculation we can conclude that this helps in conversion of NH3 to NH4+. Which is membrane impermeable and thus is not absobed in gut. Non absorbable dissacaride clears the gut of ammonia before it can be absorbed this is due to its pugative nature.

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