Question

When a patient has calcium oxalate kidney stones , why DONT we want for the patient to reduce the calcium foods in the diet? What is the reasoning and the way that calium works?

* Side note - does it have to do with the reabsorbtion of it?

Answer 1

Calcium oxalate stones are one of the common type of stones formed in kidney due to high levels of calcium, oxalate and liitle fluid. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in most of the foods.During urine formation in kidney when there are more wastes including substances like calcium ,oxalate and little fluid , cystals can be formed. Oxalate has more affinity for forming crystals in urine.This oxalate crystals stick to calcium during the process of urine formation .

Calcium helps in eliminating oxalate from body .Calcium is an essential nutrient in the body for bone health , clotting mechanism nerve function ,etc. So if we reduce taking calcium it may lead to poor nutrition and decrease efficiency of bones. Eating calcium and oxalate rich foods together can makes oxalate & calcium bind to each other in the stomach aiding the intestinal absorption and subsequent urinary excretion of free oxalate .

Calcium helps in reduction of oxalate absorption.Foods with high levels of oxalic acid reduces calcium absorption.So when calcium is consumed less it cannot reduce absorption of oxalate which is a metabolic end-product and is excreted unchanged in urine after absorption in the gastrointestinal tract leading to its more concentration in urine ending in crystals(stone)formation.