The majority of kidney stones form from an accumulation of calcium deposits in the kidneys. These deposits break off as stones and travel through the urinary tract. Kidney stones can be a painful and dangerous ordeal. While there is no specific or unique cause of kidney stone formation, there are a number of risk factors that individuals prone to kidney stones should consider.
Calcium Intake
The majority of kidney stones are the result of calcium buildup in the kidneys and the urinary tract. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Dietary and Kidney Diseases, a diet rich in calcium foods does not significantly increase one's chance of developing kidney stones. However, those with a personal or family history of kidney stones should avoid calcium and vitamin D supplements; vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. They should also limit their use of calcium-carbonate-based antacids.
Oxalate-Rich Foods
Calcium in the kidneys and urinary tract combines with an excreted compound called oxalate to form the majority of kidney stones. The NIDDK recommends that individuals at risk for kidney stones avoid oxalate-rich foods such as chard, beets, chocolate, certain teas, soybean crackers and spinach.
Acidic Urine
When an individual's urine becomes acidic, calcium can precipitate and form solid stones in the urinary tract. In a 2005 in-depth review of kidney stone disease in "The Journal of Clinical Investigation," Fredric Coe and colleagues describe how diabetics and obese individuals have acidic urine as a result of insulin resistance and are also more likely to develop kidney stones. Diets high in meat and protein can also increase the acidity of urine and increase one's chances of developing kidney stones.
Genetics and Family History
While there a number of environmental risk factors for kidney stones, most instances of kidney stone formation have some underlying genetic component. The NIDDK points out that those with a family history of any type of kidney stones are more likely to have a similar condition. This is especially true of certain very rare kidney stone types such as cystine stones, which form as a result of a genetic condition.
Age, Gender and Race
While age, sex and race are not causes per se of kidney stones, it should be noted that white men over the age of 50 are most likely to develop kidney stones. Certain kidney stones that result from a kidney infection are more likely to occur in women, who are at higher risk for urinary tract infection than men.
