15g. Urinary Health - Urinary Calculi Flashcards

1
Q

What are urinary calculi?

A

Formation of crystalline salts and organic matter in kidney/bladder

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2
Q

Signs/symptoms of urinary calculi

A

May be asymptomatic
Debilitating pain if stone lodges in ureter
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever

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3
Q

What are the main types of stones?

A

Calcium oxalate
Calcium phosphate
Uric acid
Struvite stones

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4
Q

What are struvite stones commonly caused by?

A

Chronic bacterial infection

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5
Q

Causes and risk factors for urinary calculi

A

Dehydration
Altered urinary pH
Dietary acid load
High table salt intake
High protein intake
Purine-rich foods
Low fibre
High carbohydrate
High alcohol
High intake oxalate-rich foods
Low citrate

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6
Q

Why can dehydration cause urinary calculi?

A

Urine becomes too concentrated allowing minerals and other compounds to precipitate - forming crystals

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7
Q

What happens if urine becomes too acidic?

A

Compound of calcium oxalate and uric acid stones

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8
Q

What happens if urine becomes too alkaline?

A

Compound of struvite and calcium phosphate stones

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9
Q

What foods can cause a dietary acid load?

A

Animal protein
Dairy
Soft drinks

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10
Q

Which type of stones are more prevalent under dietary acid load?

A

Calcium oxalate and uric acid

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11
Q

How are calcium oxalate and uric acid stones formed?

A

Increased secretion of calcium (oversaturates urine)
Increased secretion of uric acid (oversaturates urine)
Reduced secretion of citrate (needed to solubilise Ca oxalate)

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12
Q

Why can high table salt intake cause urinary calculi?

A

Increases urinary calcium

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13
Q

Why can low citrate cause urinary calculi?

A

Increases urinary calcium

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14
Q

Why can a high protein diet (esp animal protein) cause urinary calculi?

A

Increases uric acid as a by-product of protein metabolism

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15
Q

Natural approach to supporting urinary calculi

A

Increase fluid intake
Plant-based diet for alkalinity
Reduce all animal proteins
Reduce all high purine foods
Reduce salt intake
Avoid alcohol
Avoid oxalate-rich foods (spinach, rhubarb, strawberries, almonds, cashews)
Increase potassium-rich foods (fruit/veg)

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16
Q

Supplements to support urinary calculi

A

Mg
B6
B9
Blackcurrant juice
Cranberries
Beetroot

17
Q

Why is Mg good for supporting urinary calculi?

A

Increases solubility of calcium oxalate
Reduces risk of calcium phosphate precipitating out of solution

18
Q

Dosage of Mg to support urinary calculi

A

600mg/day
(citrate)

19
Q

Why is B6 good for supporting urinary calculi?

A

Reduces endogenous production and urinary secretion of oxalates

20
Q

Dosage of B6 to support urinary calculi

21
Q

Why is B9 good for supporting urinary calculi?

A

Reduces uric acid production

22
Q

Dosage of B9 to support urinary calculi

23
Q

Why is blackcurrant juice good for supporting urinary calculi?

A

Alkalising
Breaks down uric acid stones

24
Q

Why are cranberries and beetroot good for supporting urinary calculi?

A

Lowers urinary pH

25
Herbs to support urinary calculi
Nettle leaf Marshmallow root Lemon juice
26
Why is nettle leaf good for supporting urinary calculi?
Diuretic Alkalising
27
Why is marshmallow root good for supporting urinary calculi?
Demulcent
28
Why is lemon juice good for supporting urinary calculi?
Softens stones Citric acid component binds to calcium to promote excretion