Oxalates are naturally occurring chemicals found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. In some cases, oxalates can lead to serious health issues such as kidney disease. Your diet as well as your family history will define your risk. The effects of oxalates on human body function show the complicated nature of the foods you eat and their role in health maintenance.
Chemistry
Oxalates are compounds that contain carbon and oxygen. In addition to oxalate, you may hear them referred to as oxalic acid because of its close chemical relationship with the different forms. Oxalates occur naturally and are found in a wide variety of plants. Your body contains oxalates, and you can also get them through your diet. In addition, they form as a natural consequence of chemical reactions involving carbohydrates. Oxalates may form other chemical compounds such as calcium oxalate or potassium oxalate.
Sources
Several common foods, such as strawberries and grapes, contain oxalates. Nuts and seeds such as almonds also have this chemical. Several wildflowers are additional sources, including jack-in-the-pulpit and sorrel. The concentration of oxalates varies with the food source. Jack-in-the-pulpit contains large amounts of calcium oxalate crystal that can be extremely irritating to the digestive tract if ingested. Oxalates can pose health risks for some individuals from the formation of crystals.
Complications
High consumption of foods containing oxalates can pose health risks for some individuals. If you have hypercalciuria, or an abnormal amount of excreted calcium in your urine, you may increase your chances of developing kidney stones. Oxalates may combine chemically with calcium to create these stones. Risk factors that contribute to hypercalciuria include a diet high in sodium and protein as well as a family history of this condition, explains a study by a Polish research team, published in the 2011 issue of "Przegl Lekarski."
Oxalates and Kidney Disease
Some individuals may absorb abnormal amounts of oxalates, which can lead to inflammation of the kidneys, especially in individuals with chronic pancreatitis. A study from Hôpital de Rangueil in France, published in the August 2011 issue of the "Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology," identified oxalate crystals as the source of irritation that affects the internal structure of the kidneys. Researchers found that following an oxalate-free diet and supplementing with calcium helped relieve symptoms in patients following this treatment plan. A person with pancreatitis will experience abdominal pain and indigestion caused by digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas that become active within the organ instead of the stomach.
References
- "Chemistry"; E. Kostiner and N. Jesperson; 2008
- "Eastern-Central Medicinal Plants"; Steven Foster and James A. Duke; 1977
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Kidney Stones; January 2009
- "Przegl Lekarski"; Hypercalciuria; T. Wróblewski and A. Wystrychowski; 2011
- "Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology"; Oxalate Nephropathy Associated with Chronic Pancreatitis; C. Cartery, et al.; August 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Pancreatitis - Symptoms; January 2011
