Posted by noa on April 28, 2003, at 18:53:50
Help!
I had a kidney stone (or may still have it but it is quiet at the moment, perhaps hiding in my bladder for now).
My first, and hopefully last! Pain as I have never known it visited me (and overstayed its welcome by about 6 hours!) when the stone was passing through my ureter.
OK, so this is not exactly psychopharm material, but there are some experts on magnesium supplements here, so I figured I'd ask...
I am reading up on kidney stones and quite unsure about what to do about calcium. It *seems* the latest info is that reducing calcium intake is NOT likely to reduce kidney stone formation, but there is something about whether calcium is absorbed in the bones or eliminated through the kidneys, etc. that I don't quite get yet. However, several sites do say that calcium supplements could increase risk of stones (but I need my calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis which runs in the family).
Anyway, a couple of web sites talk about magnesium being helpful to prevent calcium-based stones, particulary magnesium citrate (both the magnesium and citrate having different preventive actions). They also talk about potassium citrate as helpful (again, both the potassium and citrate being helpful).
Can someone explain in basic terms how magnesium and calcium relate to each other?
Also, I am at risk of osteoporosis, and I read one abstract that suggests that there could be common genetic marker between kidney stones and low bone density. I figure this must have something to do with how calcium is absorbed by the bones or not.
Any help understanding this stuff is much appreciated.
poster:noa
thread:222998
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030423/msgs/222998.html