Contents
- What are calcium oxalates in urine?
- How are calcium oxalates formed in the urine?
- What is the norm for calcium oxalate in the urine?
- What does exceeding the norm for calcium oxalate in urine mean?
- What do calcium oxalates in the urine of a child mean?
- What are the most common causes of hypercalciuria in children?
- What if I have high levels of calcium oxalate in my urine?
- What diet promotes the high levels of calcium oxalate in the urine?
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Urinalysis is one of the most frequently performed tests, on the basis of which it is possible to diagnose many different diseases and ailments. Calcium oxalates are one of the most frequently detected urine components that may indicate various abnormalities and diseases. What can calcium oxalates in urine indicate? What are the acceptable standards? And what does it mean when the norms of calcium oxalate in the urine are exceeded? We answer these and other questions on this topic in the following article.
What are calcium oxalates in urine?
Calcium oxalates in the urine are tiny crystals that are found relatively frequently in the urine. Calcium oxalates in the urine are one of the most common causes of kidney stones. They are quite a natural component of urine, but it is worth remembering that when the body is healthy, they are present in small amounts. Calcium oxalates are present in the urine both due to food and the metabolism of ascorbic acid and glyoxalic acid.
How are calcium oxalates formed in the urine?
In order for oxalate crystals to form in the urine, factors that cause or favor crystallization are necessary. The most common factors of this type include an excess of magnesium, calcium, citrate and mucopolysaccharides, as well as an acidic pH. When oxalates do not dissolve properly in the urine, they precipitate, which leads to the formation of kidney stones or stones elsewhere in the urinary tract.
What is the norm for calcium oxalate in the urine?
In order for the analysis of calcium oxalate in the urine to be correct, first of all, one should be guided by the established norm. According to the research of specialists, the norm of calcium oxalate in the urine is 10-35 mg / day. This means that calcium oxalate in the urine is analyzed on the basis of a 250-hour urine collection. As for the norm of calcium excretion in urine, it is different for women and for men. For women, it is less than 300 mg / day, and for men, less than XNUMX mg / day.
What does exceeding the norm for calcium oxalate in urine mean?
Exceeded norms of calcium oxalate in urine indicate various diseases, the most common of which is nephrolithiasis. It is estimated that it affects as much as 5 percent of the population, and although it affects mainly men, it is also diagnosed in women and children. Calcium oxalates in the urine can be caused by acquired diseases and conditions, but they can also be associated with an abnormality of a congenital nature.
What do calcium oxalates in the urine of a child mean?
As we mentioned, calcium oxalates in the urine can also be found in children. Such a condition may indicate various ailments, but one of the most common is the so-called hypercalciuria. There are two types of it – primary and secondary. Primary is when the body produces excessive amounts of calcium ions as a result of genetic defects, while secondary hypercalciuria is most often caused by bowel disease and poor diet.
What are the most common causes of hypercalciuria in children?
Hypercalciuria associated with excessive urinary calcium excretion can have many different causes. The most common ones include abundant calcium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which may be associated with an improper diet rich in calcium, carbohydrates, sodium, and proteins, but low in potassium and phosphates. Excess vitamin D may also be responsible for excess calcium absorption. Another cause of hypercalciuria in children is the excess release of calcium from the bones. This condition may be associated primarily with bone metastases, immobilization, hyperparathyroidism, myeloma, and intensive steroid therapy. It can also be caused by, for example, diabetes mellitus, which may result in less renal tubular reabsorption of calcium.
What if I have high levels of calcium oxalate in my urine?
Multiple calcium oxalates in the urine may indicate various diseases and conditions, therefore, abnormal results should be consulted with an appropriate specialist to investigate the causes. The doctor will probably recommend further diagnostic tests, including ultrasound of the urinary system.
What diet promotes the high levels of calcium oxalate in the urine?
Certain foods promote the presence of numerous calcium oxalates in the urine. These are mainly plants that contain large amounts of oxalic acid. This group includes, among others, sorrel, spinach, cabbage, lemon, rhubarb, cocoa and tea.