Product Reviews and Information for Kidney Stones

3/25/2022

Hydroxycitrate for Kidney Stones?

Can supplementing with hydroxycitrate (HCA) help prevent or treat kidney stones? Find out what research shows in the What It Does section of our Garcinia Cambogia Review.

Also see our answer to the question: Can any supplements reduce or increase the risk of kidney stones?

6/17/2022

Vitamin C & Kidney Stones

High intake of vitamin C has been linked with an increased risk of kidney stones, but is the risk similar among men vs women?

9/23/2022

Plant "Meats" & Kidney Stones

Some plant-based "meats" may increase the risk of kidney stones, according to a recent study. Find out which sources of plant-based meats pose the greatest risk in our CL Answer about foods and supplements that may increase the risk of kidney stones.

9/28/2021

Potassium for Kidney Stones?

Can taking certain forms of potassium help dissolve or prevent kidney stones? Find out in the What It Does section of our Potassium Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among potassium supplements.

5/29/2021

Plant Milks and Kidney Stones

Do almond, cashew, oat, soy or other plant-based milks increase the risk of kidney stones due to their oxalates? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Plant-Based Milks Review and see which carry the highest risk. Also see our Top Picks among plant-based milks.

12/17/2021

Lemon Juice and Kidney Stones

Drinking lemon juice daily may help prevent kidney stones but there is a downside, according to a recent, two-year study. Get the details in our updated answer about Juices That May Reduce Kidney Stone Risk.

12/17/2021

Calcium and Kidney Stone Risk

Getting too much calcium from supplements may increase risk of kidney stones, while getting too little calcium from foods may increase the risk. Find out how much calcium you should be getting in our updated answer to the question: Can any supplements reduce or increase the risk of kidney stones?

10/18/2024

Vitamin C & Kidney Injury

Be aware that high-dose vitamin C can contribute to kidney stones in some people and even cause kidney injury as highlighted in our Vitamin C Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for vitamin C.

Also see: Which supplements and foods reduce or increase the risk of kidney stones?

8/15/2023

Foods High in Oxalate

People with a history of kidney stones often benefit from limiting intake of oxalates. Find out which foods have the highest amounts in our updated table, and learn about supplements that may reduce or increase the risk of kidney stones.

1/27/2024

Alkaline Water for Kidney Stones?

People who have had kidney stones may be advised to consume foods and supplements that alkalize their urine. Find out if “alkaline water” might help in our article about supplements, foods, and kidney stone risk.

1/06/2023

Coffee, Milk, and Kidney Stones

Does drinking coffee, or adding milk to it, increase the risk of kidney stones? Find out in our CL Answer about foods, supplements, and kidney stone risk.

3/21/2023

Avoiding Oxalates in Turmeric?

Oxalates can promote the formation of kidney stones and are found in turmeric supplements. However, this is not an issue with many curcumin supplements, as discussed in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for turmeric and curcumin.

Also see our article about supplements that increase or reduce the risk of kidney stones.

9/09/2022

Kidney Stone Supplements

Find out how kidney stone supplements compare and learn about concerns with some of them in our article about Supplements, Foods, and Kidney Stones.

7/20/2011

Kidney Stones Linked to Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation

A recent report showed that women taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement over a period of several years were 17% more likely to develop kidney stones than women who did not take the supplement. ConsumerLab.com reviewed this study. While the findings are correct, there seems to be no reason to give up vitamin D supplements and a small concern with calcium supplementation. Get the details in the update to the Calcium Supplements Review >>. The new information is also found in an update in the Vitamin D Supplements Review >>.

5/10/2022

Caution With Kidney Stone Supplements

Many supplements promoted to prevent or dissolve kidney stones contain ingredients with little or no evidence. Get the details in our article about supplements, foods and beverages & kidney stone risk.

10/14/2015

Calcium Supplements Increase Kidney Stone Growth

Calcium supplementation is known to increase the risk of kidney stones in postmenopausal women. A new study shows that taking calcium nearly doubles the monthly growth of such stones in women prone to getting them. The study also assessed the effects of vitamin D supplementation. Details are found in the Calcium Supplements Review >>

2/19/2019

Kidney Stones Due to Supplement?

An unusual type of kidney stone has been reported in several people who regularly consumed large amounts of a vitamin and amino acid supplement containing a particular form of choline and vitamin C. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Choline Supplements Review.

12/24/2021

Does Collagen Increase Kidney Stone Risk?

A member asked whether supplementing with collagen increases the risk of kidney stones, since collagen can produce oxalates. Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Collagen Supplements Review. Also, see our Top Picks for collagen supplements.

6/29/2021

Chia Risk

Don't overdo it with chia seeds, as they contain compounds that, in excess, can increase the risk of kidney stones and kidney injury. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Chia Seeds Review. Also, see our Top Picks among chia products.

9/16/2022

Caution with Vitamin C for COVID

Taking very high-dose vitamin C doesn’t seem to provide protection against COVID-19 and it may increase the rate of kidney stones, according to recent data. Get the details in the Vitamin C section of our CL Answer about Supplements and COVID-19.

10/23/2021

Kidney Caution With Almonds

The large amount of almonds shown to slightly reduce wrinkles in recent studies could be problematic for people with a history of kidney stones. Get the details in our updated answer to the question: Can eating almonds reduce wrinkles?

6/20/2014

Too Much Calcium for Some?

A new study found that supplementing with even moderate amounts of calcium may cause abnormally high calcium levels in the urine (a risk factor for kidney stones) of some postmenopausal women, even when total calcium intake doesn't exceed the recommended daily allowance. Get the details in the update to the Calcium Supplements Review (Including Vitamin D, Vitamin K, and Magnesium) >>   

9/11/2018

High-Dose Vitamin D Risk

A new study suggests that very high-dose vitamin D may increase the risk of kidney stones. For details, see the What It Does section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks among vitamin D supplements.)

12/09/2018

Vitamin C and Kidney Damage

High doses of vitamin C can cause kidney stones and damage kidneys. People with certain diets or medical conditions may be more prone to these problems. Get the details, including those of a recent case, in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Vitamin C Supplements Review.

12/16/2024

White Kidney Bean for Blood Sugar?

Can taking white kidney bean extract decrease blood sugar levels after a meal? See what a recent study found in our article about white kidney bean extract.

Also see: Which supplements and foods can help lower or control blood sugar?

9/03/2021

Kidney Injury and COVID

Kidney injury appears to be more common in some people who have had COVID, according to a recent study.

11/11/2021

Multivitamins and Kidney Disease

People with chronic kidney disease are often advised to limit their intake of an ingredient that, they may not realize, is common in multivitamins. Learn more in the ConsumerTips section of the Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review.

12/03/2019

Vitamin C and Kidney Damage

High doses of vitamin C have been reported to cause a form of kidney damage, although this is more common in people with certain pre-existing medical conditions. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Vitamin C Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin C supplements.

4/09/2019

Vitamin D & Kidney Failure

Although rare, excess intake of vitamin D can lead to kidney failure. This recently happened to a man taking a higher dose of vitamin D than he thought. Learn more in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin D supplements.

5/31/2024

Have Kidney Disease? Watch What’s In Your Water

People with chronic kidney disease are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals. Even low levels of lead in drinking water may be harmful, according to a recent study. See our Water Filter Pitchers Review for details. Also see our Top Picks among water filter pitchers.

3/22/2024

Urolithin A to Protect Kidneys?

Does urolithin A prevent kidney damage? Find out in our article about Urolithin A.

3/29/2024

Red Yeast Rice Linked to Deaths in Japan

Red yeast rice products in Japan have recently been recalled after being linked with kidney injury and four deaths. Get the details in our Red Yeast Rice Review, which includes our tests for citrinin (a potential kidney toxin in red yeast rice) and our Top Picks among products.

4/09/2024

Creatine and Kidney Tests

Does taking creatine interfere with tests of kidney function that measure creatinine? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Creatine and BCAAs Review, which includes our Top Picks for creatine and other workout supplements.

Also see our answer to the question: Which vitamins and supplements should be stopped before getting blood work and laboratory tests?

4/19/2024

NMN and Kidney Injury

New laboratory research suggests that long-term supplementation with NMN might cause kidney injury in older people. Learn more in the Concerns and Cautions section of our NAD Booster Supplements Review.

12/15/2023

Cricket Protein and Kidneys

Cricket protein may be more environmentally friendly than animal sources of protein, but people with impaired kidney function may want to avoid consuming large amounts. Learn why in the Cautions and Concerns section of our Protein Supplements Review. Also see what we found when we tested cricket powders, and see our Top Picks for whey, soy, and other protein shakes and drinks.

4/28/2025

Caution With Red Yeast Rice

Although rare, red yeast rice, like statin medications, can cause a rapid breakdown of muscle that can lead to kidney failure and other complications. Get the details of a recently reported case in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Red Yeast Rice Review, which includes our Top Pick among red yeast rice supplements.

10/27/2020

Protein During Dialysis?

People on dialysis (for kidney failure) may lose protein, but do all dialysis patients benefit from protein supplementation? Find out what studies are showing in the What It Does section of our Protein Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for protein powders, shakes and drinks.

2/04/2017

Caution: Turmeric Drug Interaction

It was recently reported that a man consuming large daily amounts of turmeric experienced kidney toxicity, likely due to an interaction between turmeric and the drug he was taking. Get more details about this and other drug interactions with turmeric, curcumin, and piperine (a black pepper extract often added to curcumin supplements) in the "Concerns and Cautions" section of the Turmeric/Curcumin Supplements Review (which includes our tests of products) >>

12/04/2017

What NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)

NAC is both a supplement and a drug used to treat conditions ranging from flu and chronic bronchitis to compulsive behavior. A recent study evaluated its use in preventing kidney injury during angiography (imaging of blood vessels). Get the results and learn more in the "What It Does" section of the NAC (N-Acetylcysteine) Supplements Review >> Also see our top choices among NAC supplements.

8/26/2020

Vitamin K & Heart Health

Can taking vitamin K supplements improve vascular stiffness or lower blood pressure in people with kidney disease? Find out what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Vitamin K Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin K.

2/10/2023

Magnesium and Artery Calcification

Did magnesium supplementation slow coronary artery calcification in people with chronic kidney disease? See what a recent study found in the What It Does section of our Magnesium Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for magnesium.

Also see: Which supplements or foods can help lower cholesterol and keep my heart healthy? Are there any to avoid?