Patient Education: What causes kidney stones?

Patients may be at risk for kidney stones if:-

• High concentrations of calcium, oxalate or uric acid in the urine.


• Low pH (urine too acidic)


• Concentrated urine (poor fluid intake)


• Not eating enough calcium (you absorb too much oxalate if calcium is low)


• Eating too much calcium


• High sugar intake


• High protein intake.


• High sodium intake.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS MAY ALSO PREDISPOSE TO KIDNEY STONE FORMATION

Gout

Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity

Gastric bypass

Primary hyperparathyroidism.

Crohn's disease.

SOME QUICK FACTS.

If you have previously had a stone you are at increased risk for a new one.

Drinking high volumes of grapefruit juice has been linked to kidney stones.

Green tea and coffee lowers the risk

Beer and wine are ok.

A normal calcium intake may protect you from kidney stone formation

A high calcium intake causes stones as well as a low calcium intake too.

Dietary fibres such as wheat and cereal reduces risk.

Excessive vitamin C intake increases the risk

Kidney stone symptoms.

Related articles

• Too Little Calcium, Water Linked to Kidney Stones (nlm.nih.gov)
• Impact of Nutritional Factors on Incident Kidney Stone Formation: A Report From the WHI OS (dynamomelano.wordpress.com)