Question:
regarding kidney stones: does citrate contribute to them as much as carbontate?

   — [Anonymous] (posted on December 12, 2001)

December 12, 2001
My boyfriend has had 7 kidney stones so far in his life and he is 43. The last one was up in the kidney and was too big to pass and they had to break it up with laser.He still has a few residual stones that are trying to make thier way down unsuccessfully. We asked the Urologist the same thing that you are asking and his answer was that some people are just prone to making stones no matter what they delete from their diet.So I guess it is best to check with your urologist and see what he/she says about this.It is a very frustrating situation when they keep recurring for no apparent reason.Good Luck<3
   — garyzgurl

December 12, 2001
I had a stone last year, pre-WLS. My father and brother get them. The Dr. told me there are 2 kinds of stones - a lab will analyze them and tell you what kind. There are calcium kinds, which you can avoid by diet, and the other kind (magnesu=ium has to do w/it?), which is just the unlucky kind. They tend to be familial, sporadic, happen more in men and can't be reduced by diet. Mine broke up, so there was nothing to analyze.
   — M. A. B.

December 12, 2001
My urologist warned me to swtich from carbonate to citrate BEFORE the stone formed, when it was just crystals. I didn't do it. Got my kidney stone for Christmas that year. Smart, huh? If your urinalysis shows high oxalates, then that is made worse with carbonate. Citrate is the "treatment of choice", according to this urologist. She even said that RNY are more prone to stones--why? Not enough water, and all those Tums they tell us to take. She also warned me about osteoporosis? Was I listening? Nooo. Since the carbonate doesn't go into the bones, it does go somewhere. It appears to make the blood work look great and the kidneys gather the calcium. Since FINALLY swtiching to citrate, I've had no more episodes of stones or crystals.
   — vitalady

December 13, 2001
I had Open RNY on 9/13/01 and had my first kidney stone on 10/15. My urologist does not see a connection between WLS and kidney stones. He said that he would rather I form another stone from taking calcium (I take citrate) than risking osteoporosis. He also suggested drinking a glass of lemonade a day. Something in the lemonade helps prevent stones from forming!
   — Debbi C.

December 14, 2001
The common recommendation for anyone with kidney stones, or who has a tendency to form them, is to add lemonade (even Crystal Lite works) because it has citric acid in it, which is a substance sometimes thought to be lacking in people who form kidney stones. It would then stand to reason that calcium citrate would be preferrable, and is preferable for WLS patients anyway because of absorption.
   — Jennifer P.