Generally speaking, kidney stones develop when certain substances are present in the urine in too high a concentration, so that they can no longer be completely dissolved and as a result crystallize. Substances where this happens frequently are calcium, phosphate, uric acid, oxalate and uric acid. Kidney stones can cause problems in the kidney as well as in the ureter or even the bladder.
There are different types of kidney stones, the development of which is based on various factors. The reasons for the development of kidney stones are very diverse; depending on the cause, different types of kidney stones develop. The most common triggers include either
- Lack of fluid,
- Alcohol,
- Certain nutritional factors (vitamin C and D)
- Some metabolic diseases,
- Infections,
- Anatomical irregularities,
- Lack of exercise,
- Stress,
- Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis,
- Some drugs,
- Gout (hyperuricemia) or
- Deviations of the pH value in kidney tissue (tubular acidosis).
Nutrition
Not only the water balance, but also the nutritional behavior can influence the probability of the formation of kidney stones. A very protein-rich diet (lots of meat and dairy products) means a high intake of a substance called purine, which is broken down in the body to uric acid. If it exceeds a certain concentration, uric acid stones are formed and patients suffer from gout symptoms.
In some foods such as rhubarb, spinach or green and black tea, there is a high content of oxalic acid, which can promote the formation of oxalic acid calcium crystals. A lack of fluid can cause kidney stones, since the water content of the urine is thereby compensatory lowered by the body to be able to retain more water. In relative terms, this then increases the concentration of other substances that can then form the stones.
The expert opinions on the role of vitamin C in the formation of kidney stones are not unanimous. There are voices which speak for an increased risk for the emergence of kidney stones by vitamin C, as well as these, which find the value of the vitamin C negligible. In the standard diagnostics of kidney stones, vitamin C also plays no role.
Therefore, there is no recommendation of dietary measures with regard to vitamin C in existing kidney stones. Vitamin D leads to an increase of calcium in blood serum. This can lead to hypercalcaemia, i.e. an excess of calcium, if the vitamin D dose is too high.
This excess of calcium can promote the formation of kidney stones, so-called calcium oxalate stones. A too high Vitamin D content is most likely caused by the intake of Vitamin D preparations. In the case of existing kidney stones, the intake of vitamin D preparations should be clarified in advance by a doctor.
