Metabolic acidosis Chronic metabolic acidosis Longstanding metabolic acidosis. UMLS:C0740749 Severe chronic metabolic acidosis has two well-recognized major systemic consequences. First, metabolic acidosis, or acidemia, induces increased protein catabolism, decreased protein synthesis, and negative nitrogen and total body protein balance, which improve upon bicarbonate supplementation. Second, metabolic acidosis causes physicochemical dissolution of bone and cell-mediated bone resorption by inhibition of osteoblast and stimulation of osteoclast function. HP:0001996 Chronic acidosis