Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that develop in the kidneys. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC, they are one of the most painful urologic disorders and result in nearly 3 million medical visits annually. Although the specific cause of kidney stones remains unknown, certain foods may trigger kidney stones in some people. Nondietary factors, such as genetics, infections and disease, may also contribute to kidney stones.
Genetics
Some causes of kidney stones can be traced to genetics. People with a family history of the condition are more likely to develop kidney stones than those without such history. Certain genetic disorders can also lead to kidney stones. According to the NKUDIC, more than 70 percent of people with a rare hereditary disease called renal tubular acidosis develop kidney stones. Once people genetically predisposed to kidney stones develop them, their chance of developing additional stones increases.
Infections and Disease
Though bothersome, most urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are mild and can be alleviated through medication. If left untreated, however, UTIs can lead to more serious complications, such as kidney infections, damage to the kidneys and kidney stones. Cystic kidney diseases, in which the kidneys develop fluid-filled sacs called renal cysts, are associated with the development of kidney stones.
Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic disorders are conditions that negatively impact a person's metabolism---the process of converting food into energy. According to the NKUDIC, the rare metabolic disorders dystinuria and hyperoxaluria often cause kidney stones. In cystinuria, overproduction of an amino acid called cystine leads to the development of kidney stones made of cystine. Hyperoxaluria causes the body to overproduce a bodily salt called oxalate. When the urine contains more oxalate than can be dissolved, the remaining crystals form stones. Hypercalciuria is a metabolic disorder that causes excessive calcium absorption, which commonly results in kidney stones. It is estimated that hypercalciuria causes more than half of all kidney stones.
