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HomeTopicsKidney StonesCauses Of Kidney Stones
The Many Causes of Kidney Stones: From Diet to Medical ConditionsDiet or underlying medical conditions such as gout or hyperthyroidism are common causes of kidney stones. Men are three times as likely to develop kidney stones as women. Age also plays a role: Peak incidence rates for kidney stone formation are between thirty and sixty years of age. Despite these identified kidney stone causes, however, many cases have no obvious cause.
Ethnically, Caucasians are more prone to calculi than African Americans. A family history of stone formation also increases risk levels. Living in a warm climate, especially near large bodies of water, also appears to increase the risk.
Diet
Evidence suggests that eating certain types of food increases the chances of kidney stones for people already at risk of developing calculi. Diets high in meats may increase uric acid levels in the body. If the acid cannot be completely dissolved in urine, uric acid stones may form.
Oxalate, formed from oxalic acid, combines with calcium to produce kidney stones. Eating rhubarb, spinach, cocoa, pepper, nuts or tea can result in excess oxalate in people who have a high level of risk. Diet does not appear to be a high risk for people with no other risk factors. Drinking fluids may help defend against calculus formation. Dehydration and fluid loss through diarrhea have been linked to the development of kidney stones.
Vitamin D OverdoseOverdoses of vitamin D can occur due to metabolic disorders, or overuse of vitamin supplements. Excess vitamin D results in unusually high amounts of calcium oxalate in the system, one of the causes of calcium oxylate kidney stones. Vomiting, nausea, and muscle weakness are symptoms of vitamin D overdose (also known as vitamin D intoxication).
Mineral Imbalances & UrineLow levels of urine may not be sufficient to dissolve stone-forming compounds. Urine contains substances that dissolve waste material, most notably citrate. Low levels of these substances may allow waste material to build up in the kidneys and form stones.
A number of chemical imbalances in the blood and urine may be contributing causes of kidney stones. They include:
Urinary Tract InfectionAlthough women are less likely to develop kidney stones than men, the female urinary tract is more susceptible to urinary tract infection. As bacteria build up in the urinary tract urease, a substance that lowers the acidity of the urine, is produced. The lowered acidity allows bacteria to continue to reproduce which causes the development of struvite stones (also known as magnesium ammonium phosphate, or "infection" stones). The types of bacteria involved include Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Ureaplasma.
GoutGout is a form of arthritis in which high levels of uric acid build up in the body's joints, causing pain and inflammation. The excess uric acid produced by gout can also build up in the kidneys, where it can form uric acid stones.
Hyperthyroidism & HyperparathyroidismFive percent of kidney stones are caused by hyperparathyroidism, a condition in which high levels of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) are produced by the parathyroid gland. The excess hormone produced by hyperparathyroidism causes high levels of calcium to accumulate in the blood. Similarly, hyperthyroidism is associated with urinary calculi formation, and treatment of the thyroid gland may be in order. In both cases, the excess calcium combines with phosphate or oxalate in the kidneys, resulting in the formation of stones.
Underlying Causes of Kidney StonesA number of other underlying health problems can result in stone formation:
Resources
Beers, M. H., & Berkow, R. (ed). Urinary calculi. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research Laboratories, NJ, 1999.
Browne, G. & Plant, L. (updated 2004). Kidney stones. Renal Unit of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Fauci, A., Braunwald, E., Isselbacher, K., Wilson, J., Martin, J., Kasper, D., Hauser, S., & Longo, D. (ed.). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th Edition. McGraw-Hill, NY, 1998. Carson-Dewitt, R.S. (1999). Kidney stones. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine.
Kidney Stone Treatment and Prevention Centers. (nd). About kidney stones. LithoLink.com. NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center. (updated 2000). Information for patients about primary hyperparathyroidism. Fact Sheets. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (updated 2003). Vitamin D. MedlinePlus.com National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. (2003, August). Renal tubular acidosis [NIH Publication No. 03-4696].
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