Kidney stone disease involves the formation of kidney stones, which are mineral and salt deposits that form inside the kidneys. Kidney stones can be made up of up to 6 different types of components, although uric acid stones occur in 10% of cases [1].
What are they?
Uric acid kidney stones form when urine becomes supersaturated with uric acid. This supersaturation leads to the formation of crystals, which eventually form uric acid stones. It is worth noting that this type of kidney stone is closely related to the patient's lifestyle, especially their diet.
How to prevent them? [1]-[3]
1. Change your diet
As we have already mentioned, this type of kidney stone is closely related to your diet. To prevent their formation, you should:
Limit animal protein consumption
Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits
Reduce your alcohol consumption
2. Drink enough fluids
As we have mentioned on other occasions, don't forget that the most important thing to prevent stones is to drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid daily (preferably water). You'll know it's enough when the color of your urine is almost transparent.
3. Increase your physical activity
It has been shown that an increase in physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of stone formation [4].
4. Increase your urinary pH and use aids to inhibit crystallization
The process of uric acid kidney stone formation can be avoided if the urinary pH is above 5.5 [2]. Remember the importance of maintaining your urinary pH within the appropriate ranges (5.5-6.2) and aiding in crystal inhibition to prevent the appearance of new kidney stones.
References:
[1] S. Tekgül et al., “EAU Guidelines on Urolithiasis,” Eur. Assoc. Urol., vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 475–482, 2016.
[2] F. Grases, A. Costa-Bauzá, I. Gomila, M. Ramis, A. García-Raja, and R. M. Prieto, “Urinary pH and renal lithiasis,” Urol. Res., vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 41–46, 2012.
[3] P. M. Ferraro and M. Bargagli, “Dietetic and lifestyle recommendations for stone formers.,” Arch. Esp. Urol., vol. 74, no. 1, pp. 112–122, Jan. 2021.
[4] P. M. Ferraro, G. C. Curhan, M. D. Sorensen, G. Gambaro, and E. N. Taylor, “Physical Activity, Energy Intake and the Risk of Incident Kidney Stones,” J. Urol., vol. 193, no. 3, pp. 864–868, 2015.
