Information

10% of people have urinary tract stones at least once in their life. Calculations containing CALCIUM are the most common (85%). Of these the most frequent are calcium OXALATE calculations. Then the calcium phosphate stones. Causes: increased calcium in the urine (HYPER CALCIURIA), with crystallization of calcium salts (and / or deficiency of CITRATES, or deficiency of other crystallization inhibitors - eg glycosaminoglycans - and / or poor HYDRATION). At the base there may be a condition of hypercalcemia (not frequent). Also the increase of oxalate can cause the crystallization of CALCIUM - OXALATE. The other stones (15%) are those of uric acid, cystine and struvite (the latter are formed in infected urine - and are relatively infrequent nowadays). The precipitation of uric acid and cystine is favored by acidic urine, that of calcium-phosphate and struvite by alkaline urine, while calcium-oxalate precipitates in the normal urine range. A DIET rich in salt, meat, fat and low in vegetables can promote the formation of urinary tract stones. Poor hydration also acts in this sense.

NB: spinach, tomatoes and beans, blueberries, as well as chocolate and tea increase the urinary excretion of OXALATES. However, most of those who form stones do not have detectable metabolic alterations and often have isolated episodes of stones.