HWN Suggests

Oxalate Metabolism: From Kidney Stones to Cardiovascular Disease

We argue that the oxalate pathway to CKD and CVD is neglected. The oxalate conundrum brings together the contribution of diet, intestinal transport factors, microbiome disturbances, and dysregulation of endogenous hepatic oxalate biosynthesis. Mounting evidence suggests that impaired oxalate metabolism is an important factor in the development of CVD, not only in patients with kidney disease requiring dialysis but also in those with metabolic syndrome. There are also indications that oxalate plays a role in inflammatory processes above and beyond those mediating CKD. Clearly, further research is needed: preclinical findings need to be reported in organ-appropriate tissue in vitro and in vivo…

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 Effects of Glyphosate on kidney health

Most importantly, though, oxalate is produced by the glyphosate metabolism. In the setting of the standard American diet, oxalate formed by the dysbiotic gut bacteria can get absorbed. This further increase the oxalate burden on the body. Oxalate is well known to accelerate kidney disease and bind with calcium in the urine to form kidney stones.

 High Oxalate: A Major Factor in Tissue and Blood Vessel Health

Oxalate (and its acid form, oxalic acid), is an organic acid that is primarily derived from three sources: the diet, fungus (such as Aspergillus and Penicillium), possibly Candida, and also human metabolism. Oxalic acid is the most acidic organic acid in body fluids and is used commercially to remove rust from car radiators. Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) is toxic primarily because it is converted to oxalate in the body. Two different types of genetic diseases are known in which oxalates are high in the urine, hyperoxalurias type I and type II, which can also be determined from the Organic Acids Test.

 The Truth About Oxalates & Kidney Stones

More than 90% of kidney stones in developed Western countries are made up of calcium and oxalate. Plants, especially green leafy vegetables, are high in oxalates. You might expect kidney stones to be more common in populations that eat a diet high in plant-based foods. Paradoxically, these stones are found mostly in developed countries, where people eat a diet low in plant foods; and are almost unknown in underdeveloped societies where people follow a starch-based diet (corn, potatoes, rice, etc.). Furthermore, in the United States, modern-day vegetarians have about half the incidence of stones as the general population. This apparent paradox (of plants being high in oxalates and plant-food eaters rarely getting stones) can be explained by understanding the effects of protein and fats on our metabolism.

 What Are Oxalates? The MCAS and Oxalate Intolerance Connection

Oxalates are part of a plant’s defense mechanism. When you eat certain plants, you ingest these oxalates. Under a microscope, oxalates look like tiny shards of glass or little razor blades. Oxalates protect plants from viruses and bacteria.

Articles of Interest

Glyphosate, Oxalic Acid, And Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Glyphosate, used as an organophosphate herbicide on genetically modified agricultural plants, has many adverse biochemical manipulating properties. This webinar will discuss the link between glyphosate use, oxalic acid, and associated problems at the mitochondria level.

How Oxalates Affect Kidney Health: What You Need to Know to Prevent Kidney Stones

Calcium oxalate stones are the most common form of kidney stones. If you’re prone to this kind of kidney stone, several nutrition strategies may help decrease the likelihood of developing more. Learn about possible dietary changes and strategies for people with calcium oxalate kidney stones...

Hyperoxaluria and oxalosis

Hyperoxaluria can be caused by a change in a gene, an intestine disease or eating too many foods that are high in oxalate. The long-term health of your kidneys depends on finding hyperoxaluria early and getting it treated quickly.

No study has linked a low oxalate diet to fewer kidney stones.

CRAZY! Read that again! Seriously. Not a single one. Yet, this widespread advice for a "low oxalate diet" for EVERYONE with oxalate stones WILL NOT GO AWAY! Does oxalate matter at all? Yes. For SOME people, REDUCING intakes of very high oxalate foods could help, depending on you 24 hour urine test results. However, a strict low oxalate diet simply doesn't make sense for kidney stone prevention. A strict low oxalate diet will inherently TAKE OUT so many things we know are GOOD for kidney stone prevention. Specifically, it will significantly limit your intake of magnesium and phytate - things we now know are GOOD for calcium stone prevention. It will also make it harder to eat lots of base producing foods, increases urine acid and lowers urine citrate (both pretty BAD changes for oxalate kidney stones).

Oxalate as a potent promoter of kidney stone formation

More than 80% of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones. Several studies have studied the formation mechanism of stones from the metabolism of urinary calcium, but there are few studies on oxalate, which plays an equally important role in stone formation. Oxalate and calcium play equally important roles in calcium oxalate stones, whereas the metabolism and excretion disorders of oxalate play a crucial role in their occurrence. Therefore, starting from the relationship between renal calculi and oxalate metabolism, this work reviews the occurrence of renal calculi, oxalate absorption, metabolism, and excretion mechanisms, focusing on the key role of SLC26A6 in oxalate excretion and the regulatory mechanism of SLC26A6 in oxalate transport.

Oxalate homeostasis

Oxalate homeostasis is maintained through a delicate balance between endogenous sources, exogenous supply and excretion from the body. Novel studies have shed light on the essential roles of metabolic pathways, the microbiome, epithelial oxalate transporters, and adequate oxalate excretion to maintain oxalate homeostasis. In patients with primary or secondary hyperoxaluria, nephrolithiasis, acute or chronic oxalate nephropathy, or chronic kidney disease irrespective of aetiology, one or more of these elements are disrupted.

Oxalate intake and the risk for nephrolithiasis

Most kidney stones consist of calcium oxalate, and higher urinary oxalate increases the risk for calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. However, the relation between dietary oxalate and stone risk is unclear.

Oxalates and Chronic Health...

Oxalates are structure and defense for the plant. The acidic, chalky taste of spinach is due to its high oxalate content. Plants with high oxalates are naturally bug resistant because the crystals destroy bug teeth and kill the bugs who try to eat them. Oxalate (oxalic acid) is poison. It is used as a corrosive agent in rust removal and can also be found in things like anti-freeze. The CDC lists the lowest lethal dose of oxalic acid between 15 and 30 grams.

Oxalates and its effects on our health

Oxalates aren’t exactly well known compounds, but they can affect our health if our body doesn’t process it optimally. Oxalates are found in a wide variety of foods and play an important role in the metabolism of various plants, animals, and of course our own human metabolism.

Oxalates in Spinach and Kidney Stones: Should We Be Concerned?

Even though dietary oxalates may have a limited effect on kidney stone risk in most people, there are some predisposing factors that can put anyone at risk. Removing fruits and veggies can make your dietary oxalate intake go down, but your body produces its own oxalate internally as a waste product, that you have a more difficult time getting rid of without the alkalizing effects of fruits and vegetables on our urine pH. This may help explain why those eating plant-based get fewer kidney stones (but it also may be due to their cutting animal protein intake, which can have an acid-forming effect in the kidneys). We’ve known this for 40 years. Just a single can of daily tuna fish can increase your risk of forming stones 250%. And even just cutting back on animal protein may help cut kidney stone risk in half.

Oxalates often overlooked driver of chronic health issues

For those unfamiliar, oxalates are crystalline structures that are commonly known to cause calcium oxalate kidney stones, as oxalates bind with minerals and inhibit their absorption. Unbound oxalates can significantly disrupt cellular function and contribute to nutrient deficiencies, particularly calcium and magnesium.

Oxalates: Dietary Oxalates and Kidney Inflammation: A Literature Review

The concentration of oxalates found within the body at any particular time is not limited to edible plants; normal human metabolic processes of breaking down ascorbic acid may create up to 30 mg of oxalate daily. Research supports urolithiasis as a common urologic disease in industrialized societies. Approximately 80% of kidney stones are composed of calcium oxalate, resulting in hyperoxaluria. Exogenous (originating outside the cell or organism) oxalate sources include ascorbic acid, amino acids, and glyoxal metabolism.

The association of glyphosate exposure with kidney stones in American adults: A nationally representative cross-sectional study

Glyphosate exposure is significantly associated with the prevalence of kidney stones. In men, non-Hispanic whites, and hypertensive populations, the management of glyphosate exposure should be emphasized, and appropriate protective strategies may be beneficial in reducing the burden of kidney stones. More high-quality clinical inquiries and animal toxicology experiments are still required to verify the reliability of our findings and their underlying mechanisms.

The Hidden Impact of Oxalates on Health: Understanding Sources, Metabolism, and Management Strategies

Oxalates, naturally occurring compounds found in various foods and produced endogenously in the human body, play a crucial role in health and disease. Understanding their sources, metabolism, and the impact of nutrients and microorganisms on their levels is essential for maintaining optimal health. Here's a comprehensive overview of oxalates and how to manage them effectively.

Understanding Oxalates: Benefits, Risks, and Practical Tips

Are oxalates harmful in your diet, or are they often misunderstood? With so much mixed information, it’s normal to feel puzzled. These natural compounds found in many plant-based foods can affect your health, particularly regarding kidney stones and how your body absorbs minerals. But do you really need to steer clear of foods high in oxalates?

What Causes Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones to Form? An Update on Recent Advances

Recent advancements have shed light on the nuanced contribution of diet, environment and genetics as well as the more fundamental roles of calcium oxalate crystallization, Randall’s plaque formation, inflammation and even a possible contribution of the recently discovered urinary microbiome. This review provides a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of kidney stone pathogenesis and identifies new frontiers and remaining gaps in our knowledge of this disease

Resources

Take On PH1

Learn more about primary hyperoxaluria (PH1), signs & symptoms, and living with this rare condition. mary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare, progressive, inherited metabolic stone disease that is potentially life-threatening, and often presents with kidney stones.