Kidney stones develop when minerals from your blood plasma begin to crystallize in your kidneys. Once formed, the stone might pass through your urinary tract or continue to grow and cause a blockage in your kidneys, ureter or urethra. Managing kidney stones might require lifestyle modifications or surgery in some cases, and some kidney stones might respond to drug or supplement use. Taking vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, might help to prevent or treat the stones.
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can develop for a number of reasons. Some individuals develop kidney stones due to decreased calcium excretion in the kidneys as a result of genetic variations. Alternatively, lifestyle factors, like dehydration, meat consumption or supplement overuse can promote the development of kidney stones. For example, overdosing on vitamin C, A or D supplements can increase your risk of kidney stones in some cases.
Effect of Vitamin B6
Other vitamins, such as vitamin B6, can have a beneficial effect in preventing kidney stone development. Vitamin B6 decreases oxalate levels in urine and might therefore reduce the risk of kidney stones containing oxalate. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, consuming vitamin B6 supplements reduces the incidence of kidney stones in women, reducing the risk of kidney stones by approximately 33 percent. However, the same benefit does not appear to affect both genders, since vitamin B-6 supplementation in men does not decrease the kidney stones.
Sources of Vitamin B6
You can help to maintain an adequate vitamin B6 intake by consuming foods rich in the nutrient. Foods such as spinach, hazelnuts, bananas, fortified breakfast cereals, skin-on potatoes and salmon all provide sources of vitamin B6. Following a healthy diet that contains these foods might also benefit your kidneys by providing a range of other nutrients that support your overall health and promote support kidney functioning.
Considerations
If you suffer from the symptoms of kidney stones -- unexplained sharp pains or aches in your torso or blood in your urine -- seek immediate medical attention. The symptoms associated with kidney stones can actually develop due to a number of diseases, including some types of cancer, and you need a medical evaluation to definitively diagnose a case of kidney stones. Never try to treat or prevent kidney stones using vitamin B6 without your doctor's permission, and talk to your physician before you take any vitamin supplement.
