In dialysis patients, the most common causes of alkalosis are vomiting or nasogastric suction. In intensive care patients, the most common cause is administered lactate or acetate, especially with total parenteral nutrition solutions. Calcium carbonate and acetate are poorly absorbed and cause little alteration of acid-base balance. Coadministration of aluminum hydroxide with sodium polystyrene sulfonate resin can cause alkalosis because the resin binds aluminum, and the latter can no longer bind to and sequester bicarbonatesecreted by the pancreas.