Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus, though it is most common in the small intestine and colon. This condition not only affects digestive health but can also have consequences for other organs, such as the kidneys.
Various studies have shown that patients with Crohn's disease have a significantly higher risk of developing kidney stones (urolithiasis). In fact:
- Approximately 10% of patients with Crohn's develop kidney stones.
- Patients with Crohn's have up to 100 times greater risk of forming stones than the general population.1
Why does this happen?
- Intestinal malabsorption: the intestine does not absorb fats well, which promotes the absorption of free oxalate, which is eliminated through the kidney, mostly forming calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones.
- Chronic dehydration: persistent diarrhea decreases urine volume, which further concentrates the salts responsible for stone formation.
- Use of medications such as corticosteroids: these can alter mineral balance, promoting the formation of urinary crystals.
Most common types of kidney stones in Crohn's
Although calcium oxalate stones are the most common, uric acid stones can also form, depending on these risk factors:
- Low urine volume
- Acidic urinary pH (pH < 6)
- Hypomagnesuria (low magnesium in urine)
- Hypocitraturia (low citrate in urine)
- Hyperoxaluria (excess oxalate)
How to prevent stones?
Supplements such as Lit-Control® pH Balance help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones. Its formula is designed to counteract two risk factors: hyperoxaluria (excess oxalate in urine) and hypomagnesuria (magnesium deficiency in urine).
Its key ingredients are:
- Phytate, which acts as a natural inhibitor of stone formation.
- Magnesium, which helps correct the lack of this mineral and prevents crystals from clumping together.
- On the other hand, Lit-Control® pH Up is indicated for people who tend to have overly acidic urine or low citrate levels, which also promotes stone formation.
It contains:
- Potassium-magnesium citrate (Cit-K-Mg), which helps raise urine pH and treats both hypocitraturia (low citrate) and hypomagnesuria.
- Theobromine, a compound with a slight diuretic effect that increases urine volume, which facilitates the elimination of salts and crystals.
In conclusion, to prevent kidney stones in Crohn's disease, it is necessary to combine good hydration, an adequate diet, and the use of specific nutritional supplements such as those from the Lit-Control® range.
Sources:
*1 Gaspar SR, et al 2016. Urolithiasis and crohn's disease. Urol Ann 2016;8:297-304. 2. Siener, R. et al 2024. Intestinal Oxalate Absorption, Enteric Hyperoxaluria, and Risk of Urinary Stone Formation in Patients with Crohn’s Disease. Nutrients 2024, 16, 264.
