Final answer:
The assertion that chronic kidney disease can decrease the pH of a urine sample is true. Kidney disease results in less effective elimination of acids, potentially causing the urine to become more acidic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chronic kidney disease can indeed lead to a decrease in the pH of a urine sample, therefore the answer to the student's question is A) True. The kidneys help to maintain the acid-base balance in the body by regulating the pH of the blood. When the kidneys are not functioning properly, as in the case of chronic kidney disease, they may not be able to effectively remove acids from the body. This can result in a condition known as metabolic acidosis, where there is an accumulation of acid in the body, and consequently, the pH of the urine may decrease.
It is important to recognize that both the lungs and the kidneys work in tandem to manage the pH of the blood. While the lungs regulate carbon dioxide, the kidneys manage the excretion or retention of bicarbonate, helping to keep the systemic pH within its narrow range of approximately 7.35 to 7.45. If the kidneys are impaired, as with chronic kidney disease, they may not adequately handle these tasks, leading to disruptions in pH levels both in the blood and in the urine.
Risk factors for the development of kidney stones include dehydration, certain diets (such as those high in protein, sodium, or sugar), and specific medical conditions like obesity, digestive diseases, and repeated urinary tract infections, among others.