Understanding kidney stones, prevention, and the role of potassium in stone management and kidney health – Cedem
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Sep 01

The Role of Potassium in Kidney Stone Management: Insights from Recent Studies

Kidney stones, or renal calculi, can be a painful and disruptive condition. These hard deposits form from minerals and salts within the kidneys and can develop due to factors such as diet, excess body weight, certain medical conditions, and specific supplements or medications. While passing kidney stones can be very uncomfortable, timely diagnosis often prevents permanent damage. Treatment typically involves pain management and increased water intake to facilitate stone passage. In more severe cases, such as when stones become lodged or lead to infections, surgical intervention may be necessary.

PERAL, CEDEM AG is a food supplement with the active ingredient Potassium that helps the kidneys get rid of uric acid, thus making the urine less acidic and helps to reduce the occurrence of gout and kidney stones. It also relieves painful and burning urination.

This supplement is designed to support kidney function, and in this discussion, we will demonstrate how effectively it works.

Recent research has highlighted the significant role potassium plays in managing kidney stones. Let’s delve into how potassium can help and why it’s becoming a key player in kidney stone management.

  1. Preventing Stone Formation

Reduced Calcium Excretion: Potassium helps balance urinary calcium levels, which can be crucial in preventing calcium-based kidney stones. A higher intake of potassium has been shown to decrease the amount of calcium excreted in urine. By reducing urinary calcium, the risk of developing calcium-based stones is lowered.

Inhibition of Stone Formation: Potassium citrate, a common form of potassium used in medical treatments, plays a preventive role by altering urine pH. By increasing urine pH, potassium citrate makes the urine less acidic, which helps prevent the crystallization of minerals like calcium. This creates an environment less conducive to stone formation.

  1. Overall Kidney Health

Improved Urine Flow: Potassium contributes to overall kidney health by supporting proper kidney function and promoting healthy urine flow. This helps in preventing the concentration of minerals that could lead to stone formation.

 

Recent Study Insights

Recent studies underscore the critical role of potassium in kidney stone management. While dietary sodium alone is not a strong predictor of kidney stones, a high sodium intake coupled with low potassium intake significantly increases the risk. Lower dietary potassium intake has been strongly associated with a higher risk of developing kidney stones.

Furthermore, although potassium citrate is well-known for preventing stone formation, its effectiveness in dissolving existing stones has been less explored until recently. Studies have shown that potassium citrate is not only effective in preventing kidney stone recurrence but also in dissolving and reducing the size of existing stones. This makes it an invaluable option for nonsurgical treatment.

References:

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202406.1741/v1

https://www.transresurology.com/article_136487.html

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