Food production advancements contributed to a greater prevalence of kidney stones among Europeans in the 1500s, according to researchers in a 2010 "Reviews in Urology" article. Centuries later, diet is still a major concern when it comes to your risk for developing stones. While the causes of nephrolithiasis vary, you can take preventative action. Scientific evidence backs up the effectiveness of one home prevention method: lemon juice.
Understanding Kidney Stones
Many kidney stones are small and can be excreted during urination without pain or discomfort . However, some might affect your ability to urinate and cause considerable discomfort. They develop when crystals build up in the kidneys and eventually form larger particles. If these stones lodge themselves in the ureter, you might experience continual pain, nausea, vomiting and blood in the urine. Fever and chills can occur if you have an accompanying infection. Kidney stones made up of calcium and oxalate are the most common type, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Role of Citrate
Citrate plays an important role in preventing calcium stones. This molecule attaches to calcium in your urine, which keeps the mineral from binding to oxalate. Having a low level of citrate, called hypocitraturia, not only prevents your body from adequately removing excess calcium but also from being able to stop stone formation. Health conditions such as urinary tract infections, chronic diarrhea and kidney failure contribute to having hypocitraturia. Your doctor might prescribe citrate supplements to help prevent kidney stones, according to the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute.
Lemon Juice
The role of citrate explains why consuming lemon juice is an effective preventative method for kidney stones. Dr. Roger L. Sur, the director of the UC San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center, points out that drinking lemonade is one of the top ways to prevent stones. Lemons have the highest concentration of citrate of any citrus fruit. Drinking 4 oz. of reconstituted lemon juice mixed with two liters, or 2.11 qt., of water every day decreases the rate of kidney stone formation, according to Dr. Sur. Reconstituted lemon juice is widely available in grocery stores and is made from lemon juice concentrate. Other citrus juices, such as orange, also contain citrate but aren't effective because they often contain calcium and oxalate.
Acute Treatment
You might need medical intervention if you already have symptomatic stones. Certain medications, including diuretics, might be recommended to treat them. However, in many cases pain relievers and lifestyle changes are the name of the game. Drinking water and lemon juice is safe when dealing with a stone, but you should avoid cranberry and apple juices because they contain oxalates. Colas also should be avoided because their phosphoric acid content lowers citrate levels. Seek immediate medical treatment if you develop a fever, chills or are unable to pass the stone within two to three days.
References
- Reviews in Urology: "Kidney Stones: A Global Picture of Prevalence, Incidence and Associated Risk Factors"; Victoriano Romero, MD, et al.; 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: "Kidney Stones"
- University of California Newsroom: "Lemonade Can Help Prevent Kidney Stones"; April 2010
- James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute: "How Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented?"
