Each year almost three million people will visit their doctor and more than half a million will go to the emergency room for the distinct severe flank pain associated with kidney stones. Most kidney stones pass through the body on their own, which means that the conventional treatment is medication for the pain and time. If the stone is too large to pass or if a fever starts, individuals should seek medical care immediately. Once an individual has had a kidney stone, they are more at risk for reoccurrence of them. Ways to reduce risk of kidney stones and prevention varies from person to person, but also kidney stone to kidney stone.
Not All Stones are Created Equal
There are multiple types of kidney stones, and each requires a different approach to prevention. People should only make dietary changes for the type of kidney stone they are at risk to make> For example, if you make uric acid stones, there is no benefit to avoiding oxalate foods.
Calcium oxalate stones are the most common kind of stone, making up an estimated eighty-five percent of all kidney stones. These stones occur when urine has a low pH or is more acidic. Prevention of these stones includes consideration of dietary sources of oxalate and components to formation.
Foods high in oxalates should be avoided by people who have had these types of kidney stones. People often think of cranberry juice to help prevention urinary tract infections, however, along with grapefruit juice, cranberry juice may increase production of calcium oxalate stones, due to the oxalate content. Other foods that contain oxalates are rhubarb, spinach, wheat germ, peanuts, okra, chocolate and sweet potatoes. Only if a person is susceptible to calcium oxalate stones should these types of foods be avoided, because for most people leafy green vegetables and other whole foods high in oxalate can be very beneficial. Some Vitamin C supplements can also be a source of oxalates, and should be limited by people who have calcium oxalate stones.
The kidneys are responsible for clearing excess calcium out of the body, and if there is an increase in calcium in the urine, there is an increased risk of calcium oxalate formation. Excessively elevated Vitamin D levels, hormone imbalance and increase in calcium absorption, such as from excessive supplementation, can lead to kidney stone formation. Calcium from the diet does not contribute to kidney stone formation, and individuals who are at risk for these stones should get 800 mg of calcium in their diet daily. Also, prolonged inactivity can lead to elevated calcium excretion and kidney stone formation, which is a common concern for astronauts!
Calcium phosphate stones are much less common than their calcium oxalate brothers, and typically occur with very alkaline urine, instead of acidic. Another nutrient that should be limited in the diet to prevent excess calcium in the urine is sodium. Sodium will increase the calcium excretion and when phosphorus binds to it in the urine, calcium phosphate stones can form. The best way to limit sodium in the diet is to have a whole food diet, with fewer processed foods, which require salt to be preserved.
Uric acid stones form when there are elevated levels of uric acid in the urine, and make up about ten percent of kidney stones. High uric acid levels can occur from excessively elevated Vitamin D levels and diets high in purines, which come from animal proteins. These stones are the only type that can be dissolved with medication or specific nutrients, such as potassium citrate and sodium bicarbonate. Treatment of these stones should be managed with a physician, and medication should not be taken without monitoring urine pH levels.
Struvite stonesform from kidney infections. The best way to avoid these types of stones is to prevent kidney infections, however, no specific foods will prevent the stone formation. Certainly low sugar and whole food diets may aid in infection prevention.
Cystine stones are when cystine concentrates in the urine and forms crystals. The only known cause of these is a rare genetic disorder where specific amino acids leak through the kidneys.
Are you at risk?
Risk factors for kidney stones include dehydration, chronic inflammation or infection, being overweight, or having a family history of kidney stones.
What’s your kidney stone type?
If you have had a kidney stone and/or want to assess your risk, urine tests can evaluate the levels of calcium, sodium, uric acid, oxalate, citrate and other factors of kidney stone formation. This can help a physician assess if you are at risk for a specific type of stone. Some risk factors can be avoided, others cannot, but mindful dietary decisions can certainly help prevent formation of specific kidney stones.
Dr. Lauren Gouin is a board certified naturopathic physician, accepting new patients for her family practice in Manchester, CT. Dr. Gouin is in network with most insurance companies. For an appointment or more information, please call (860)533-0179 or visit www.ctnaturalhealth.com.