Hormone deficiency can cause altered renal calcium concentrations leading to formation of stones and other problems in the kidneys. Red clover is known to contain compound that mimic the effects of estrogen and may have potential to treat regulation of mineral uptake in the urine. Always consult an urologist before self-treating with medicinal herbs.
Red Clover
Trifolium pretense, more commonly known as red clover, is a perennial plant native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. Red clover contains isoflavones, which are estrogen-like compounds that can mimic the effect of naturally occurring estrogen. Red clover is widely used to relieve menopausal symptoms and has been shown to be safe, but sometimes ineffective. Kidney disease has not been shown to be alleviated by red clove supplementation, but it may be beneficial in preventing the occurrence of kidney stones.
Red Clover and Kidney Disease
Red clover, as a replacement for estrogen, has shown promise as a potential treatment for mineral absorption problems in the kidney leading to the development of kidney stones. The frequency of kidney stones increases after menopause, suggesting that estrogen deficiency may be a leading factor. Supplementation by red clover could potentially diminish the occurrence of kidney stones and possibly other estrogen-dependent disorders.
Estrogenic Effect of Red Clover
The "Journal of Sexual Medicine" published an article in the November 2010 issue that investigated the role of medicinal plants in estrogen regulation and replacement. The authors conducted a review of published studies of plants that are possible alternative treatments for estrogen. They found that red clover was useful as a possible alternative or complementary approach in studies aimed at the treatment of mineral absorption controlled by estrogen. The review cautioned that there is a need for clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this plant on the management of kidney function.
Kidney Stone Formation and Estrogen Supplemtation
The March 2010 issue of "The Kurme Medical Journal" included a study to investigate the lower incidence of urinary stones in women due to the protective effect of estrogen. The researchers examined the interaction of estrogen receptors and proteins responsible for stone formation, called osteopontin, OPN, using rats. Rat kidney cells were examined after treatment with female sex hormones under various conditions and the authors found that estrogen may regulate OPN expression. They concluded that increases in OPN can be induced by estrogen deficiency and may increase urinary stones in postmenopausal women.
Frequency of Stones during Menopause
In the December 2007 issue of the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research," researchers conducted a study on the incidence of kidney stone increases in women after menopause, suggesting a possible role of estrogen deficiency. They used a mouse model of estrogen deficiency to test whether estrogen deficiency would regulate urinary calcium excretion and formation of renal stones. The results showed that urinary calcium concentrations in estrogen-deficient mice were elevated and estrogen treatment of the test animals normalized urinary calcium excretion. The authors concluded that estrogen deficiency is associated with calcium re-absorption in the kidney and the possible formation of stones.
References
- "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research"; Aromatase deficiency causes altered expression of molecules critical for calcium reabsorption in the kidneys of female mice; O Oz et al; December 2007
- "Journal of Sexual Medicine"; Medicinal plants as alternative treatments for female sexual dysfunction: utopian vision or possible treatment in climacteric women?; R Mazaro-Costa et al; November 2010
- "The Kurume Medical Journal"; The Interaction between female sex hormone receptors and osteopontin in a rat hyperoxaluric model; J Miyajima et al; March 2010
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