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The in-vivo effect of sodium-potassium citrate on the crystal growth rate of calcium oxalate and other parameters in human urine

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Summary

In this study, an efficient microtechnique (gel crystallization method) was used to investigate the in-vivo effect of sodium-potassium citrate on the crystal growth rate of calcium oxalate (Vcr) in human urine samples of 6 healthy volunteers. With a daily dose of 3x11 mmol of alkali citrate, Vcr decreased by 70%. This could have been due to the decrease of calcium excretion, which caused 50–60% of the total change, and to the increase of citrate and pH, each contributing about 20–25% to the decline of Vcr. The findings explain the clinical advantages of alkali citrates in the prevention of recurrent calcium oxalate stone formation.

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References

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Achilles, W., Schulze, D., Schalk, C. et al. The in-vivo effect of sodium-potassium citrate on the crystal growth rate of calcium oxalate and other parameters in human urine. Urol Res 18, 1–6 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00294572

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