Metabolic Acidosis can be primarily caused by which of the following?

Metabolic acidosis is characterized by a decrease in bicarbonate levels in the blood, leading to a lower pH. The primary causes often include excess acid production or insufficient acid elimination by the kidneys.

Lactic acidosis, one of the significant causes of metabolic acidosis, occurs when lactic acid accumulates in the body. This can happen due to conditions that result in hypoxia or anaerobic metabolism, such as severe infection, shock, or strenuous exercise that exceeds the body's ability to supply oxygen to the tissues. In lactic acidosis, the increased production of lactic acid contributes directly to the acid-base disturbance, thereby leading to a state of metabolic acidosis.

Inadequate renal function can also lead to metabolic acidosis, but the question specifically asks about the primary causes. In this context, lactic acidosis is a more direct and immediate cause compared to the systemic effects of renal failure, where metabolic acidosis may develop over time. An alkaline diet would typically not induce metabolic acidosis, rather it could promote a more balanced pH. Similarly, excessive exercise can lead to temporary lactic acidosis, but it is not as prominent a cause as pathological states resulting in sustained lactic acid accumulation.

Therefore, lactic acidosis