Vitamin C and Kidney Stones

There is no evidence that vitamin C causes kidney stones.

Indeed, in some cases, high doses may be curative. A recent, large-scale, prospective study followed 85,557 women for 14 years and found no evidence that vitamin C causes kidney stones. There was no difference in the occurrence of stones between people taking less than 250 milligrams per day and those taking 1.5 grams or more.

This study was a follow up of an earlier study on 45,251 men. This earlier study indicated that doses of vitamin C above 1.5 grams reduce the risk of kidney stones. The authors of these large studies stated that restriction of higher doses of vitamin C because of the possibility of kidney stones is unwarranted.

Around three quarters of all kidney stones are composed of calcium oxalate; unlike some other stone types, these can form in acidic urine.

Although vitamin C does increase the production of oxalate in the body, there is no evidence that it increases stone formation. Vitamin C tends to bind calcium, which could decrease its availability for formation of calcium oxalate it also has a diuretic effect, it increases urine flow, providing an environment that is less suitable for formation of kidney stones.

Vitamin C could also prevent other types of kidney stones. Less common forms of stone include uric acid stones, that form in gout, and cystine stones, which can occasionally be formed in children with a hereditary condition; these stones are not side effects of vitamin C. Other stones include those made from calcium phosphate, which dissolve in a vitamin C solution.

Acid urine, produced by ascorbate, will also dissolve the struvite stones that often occur in infected urine.

Vitamin C in Preventing and Dissolving Kidney Stones

The very common kidney stone, calcium phosphate stone, can only exist in a urinary tract that is not acidic.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C's most common form) acidifies the urine, thereby dissolving phosphate stones and preventing their formation.

Acidic urine will also dissolve magnesium ammonium phosphate stones, which would otherwise require surgical removal. These are the same struvite stones associated with urinary tract infections. Both the infection and the stone are easily cured with vitamin C in large doses. The common calcium oxalate stone can form in an acidic urine whether one takes vitamin C or not.

However, if a person gets adequate quantities of B-complex vitamins and magnesium, this type of stone does not form. Any common B-complex supplement twice daily, plus about 400 milligrams of magnesium, is usually adequate.

Ascorbate (the active ion in vitamin C) does increase the body's production of oxalate. Yet, vitamin C does not increase oxalate stone formation. Furthermore, you can avoid excessive oxalates by not eating excessive amounts of rhubarb, spinach, or chocolate.

Natural Supplements for Kidney Stones - Renalis

Renalis addresses diet-related kidney stone formation. As diet is an important component to general kidney function, the nutrients found in Renalis support healthy kidney function and may discourage stone formation.

Natural Therapies, including Renalis, may help to ease the pain and spasm that accompanies stone passage, while ensuring kidney health and limiting the potential for future stone formation.

Nutrients including;Hydrangea, Chanca Piedra, Aloe Vera, Magnesium citrate, and Vitamin B6 work synergistically to ensure nutritional adequacy. Thus promoting the health of your urinary tract, exerting an alkali loading effect, providing reductions of urinary calcium levels, and assisting with the passage of developed stones.

Overall, Renalis may provide you with the best option for maintaining kidney health and reducing your chance of stone formation.

Ingredient List for Renalis:

• Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) - Hydrangea has mild diuretic activity and has traditionally been used to treat kidney stones and prevent their formation.
  
  In certain cases managed only by a physician, a botanical formula including hydrangea has been used to assist with passage of calcium oxalate or phosphate stones that are no larger than 5mm in diameter, and in patients who are in good health.
• Chanca Piedra (Phyllanthus niruri) - An herb with a long historical tradition in South America for patients with kidney stones, Phyllanthus has a body of scientific evidence supporting its use.
  
  In sixty-nine patients who tend to form calcium kidney stones, administration of Phyllanthus capsules for three months reduced urinary calcium levels when compared to placebo.
• Aloe vera - Aloe is better known for its laxative and wound healing effects.
  
  However, aloe also is useful in patients who tend to form kidney stones. One of it constituents, emodin, has mild diuretic activity. As well, aloe binds calcium and can rapidly decrease the growth rate of calcium crystals in the urine.
• Magnesium citrate - This form of magnesium has added benefit with both components exerting effects in patients prone to kidney stone formation. Magnesium increases the solubility of calcium in the urine and decreases its absorption leading to decreased formation of calcium oxalate (making up 90% of kidney stones).
  
  Citrate increases urinary magnesium citrate levels and decreases urinary oxalate.
• Vitamin B-6 - In a study of over 85000 women, the results showed that lower levels of vitamin B6 are associated with increased risk of developing kidney stones.
  
  The authors suggest that large doses of this vitamin may reduce the incidence of kidney stone formation. Children with a history of kidney stones have benefited from supplementation with vitamin B6, thereby reducing levels of urinary oxalate resulting in no stone formation in a 1 year follow-up, as well as resolution of abdominal pain and blood in the urine.

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