The bladder is an organ in your body that stores urine. A high acidity level in your bladder usually means that your urine is acidic. You may be at risk of developing kidney stones if your urine is too acidic. Certain vitamins may help to neutralize the acid in your bladder. Your physician may test your urine’s pH level if he is concerned about acidity in your bladder.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 is a water-soluble vitamin that your body uses for a number of functions. Vitamin B-6 may also help to neutralize acid in the urine and prevent kidney stones. A 1999 study published in the “Journal of the American Society of Nephrology” found that vitamin B-6 decreased the risk of kidney stones. The study followed 85,557 women with no history of kidney stones. During 14 years of followup, 1,078 cases of kidney stones were noted. A high intake of vitamin B-6 correlated to a lower chance of kidney stones.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant. It helps to protect your cells from free radical damage. Vitamin E may also help to neutralize acid in your body and your bladder. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin E increases the expression of two enzymes that suppress acid production. A 2008 study published in “Renal Physiology” found that low levels of vitamin E increased kidney stone formation in rats, suggesting that vitamin E may help to reduce acid in the bladder.
Vitamin C
There is some debate about the correlation between vitamin C and acid in the urine. Because vitamin C is ascorbic acid, taking large doses of the vitamin may increase acid in the bladder and urine. However, a 1996 study published in the “Journal of Urology” examined kidney stones in men. Even in large doses, researchers found that vitamin C did not increase kidney stone formation. Another study published in 2008 in the “Journal of Rheumatology” found that vitamin C decreased uric acid concentration in men.
Other Supplements
Other supplements may help to reduce acid in your bladder. Minerals such as magnesium and calcium may help to reduce acid. If you have too little magnesium in your blood, your uric acid levels may increase, causing kidney stone formation. Potassium citrate also may help to reduce the acid in your urine, according to James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at John Hopkins. Calcium helps to control the acid and alkaline levels in your body and may help to reduce acid in your bladder.
References
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Your Urinary System and How It Works
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B6
- Journal of American Society of Nephrology; Intake of Vitamins B6 and C and the Risk of Kidney Stones in Women; GC Curhan, et al.
- Journal of Urology; A Prospective Study of the Intake of Vitamins C and B6, and the Risk of Kidney Stones in Men; GC Curhan, et al.
- Journal of Rheumatology; Vitamin C Intake and Serum Uric Acid Concentration in Men; X. Gao, et al.
- New York University Langone Medical Center: Kidney Stones-Adult
- James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute: Kidney Stones
- University of Oregon:Supplements
- Renal Physiology; Low-Vitamin E Diet Exacerbates Calcium Oxalate Crystal Formation Via Enhanced Oxidative Stress in Rat Hyperoxaluric Kidney; Ho-Shiang Huang, et al.
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