Effect of ascorbic acid consumption on urinary stone risk factors
Abstract
PURPOSE: Ascorbic acid (AA) has been implicated as a risk factor for calcium oxalate stones due to its conversion to oxalate and potential acidifying properties. We evaluated the effect of AA consumption on urinary saturation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) and urinary pH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 12 normal subjects (NS) and 12 CaOx stone formers (SF) underwent 2, 6-day phases of study while maintained on a controlled metabolic diet. In each phase subjects ingested 1 gm AA or an identical appearing placebo twice daily. On the last 2 days of each phase 2, 24-hour urine collections were analyzed for pH and stone risk factors, and blood specimens were submitted for serum chemistry studies. RESULTS: No difference in urinary pH was found between placebo and AA phases in NS (6.02 versus 6.02) and SF (6.0 versus 6.0). However, urinary oxalate was statistically significantly higher in the AA versus placebo phase for NS (34.7 versus 28.5 mg, p = 0.008) and SF (41.0 versus 30.5 mg, p <0.001). Likewise, the CaOx relative saturation ratio was significantly higher in the AA versus placebo phase for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of 2 gm AA daily results in no change in urinary pH but a moderate though statistically significant increase in urinary oxalate in NS (20%) and SF (33%). Stone formers respond no differently to AA than normal subjects. We recommend limiting AA use to less than 2 gm daily in CaOx stone formers.
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It was shown that even high doses of vitamin C do not decrease the pH of urine.
“However, it was shown that even high doses of vitamin C do not decrease the pH of urine [203].”
From Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination (2021) · cites this paper as [203]
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- Authors
- TRAXER, O., HUET, B., POINDEXTER, J., PAK, C. Y. C., & PEARLE, M. S.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- ORCID
- PEARLE, MARGARET S.
- Venue
- Journal of Urology
- Published
- 2003-08
- Volume
- 170
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 397-401
- ISSN
- 0022-5347 (ISSN-L)
- 1527-3792
- OpenAlex
- W2117259881
- Cited by
- 169
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 7.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Urology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Kidney Stones and Urolithiasis Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Nephrology › Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Nephrotoxicity and Medicinal Plants
- Keywords
- vitamin C, calcium oxalate stones, urinary oxalate, urine pH, stone formers, urinary stone risk factors, dietary supplementation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Oxalate, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Male, Risk Factors, Urinary Calculi, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements
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