Effects Of Green Tea On Urinary Stone Formation: An In Vivo And In Vitro Study

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 02 Aug 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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UroToday.com - This is a fascinating study that may have clinical relevance. Using both an in vitro crystal model and an in vivo rat model, these authors were able to show that green tea resulted in a 30% decrease in crystal formation and a 15% decrease in oxalate concentration.

Of note, this is not the first report in this regard. Indeed, in 2005, Itoh and colleagues noted significant decreases in calcium oxalate deposits and in urinary oxalate levels among stone-forming rats given green tea as a drink or powder.1

At present, there are no effective, consistent means for lowering urinary oxalate levels among urolithiasis patients with hyperoxaluria. As such, I am anxiously awaiting clinical studies to confirm whether similar beneficial affects occur in humans.

By Ralph V. Clayman, M.D.

References:

J. Endourology 20: 356-362, May 2006
Link Here.

J. Urology 173: 271, 2005.
Link Here.

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