Calcium citrate: Reduced propensity for the crystallization of calcium oxalate in urine resulting from induced hypercalciuria of calcium supplementation

The effect of calcium citrate (800 mg calcium/day in 4 divided doses) on urinary biochemistry and crystallization of calcium salts was examined in 18 normal subjects. During treatment, urinary calcium increased significantly (from 150±65 (SD) to 248±77 mg/day). Urinary citrate rose from 611±208 to 730±225 mg/day, owing largely to the alkali load. The urinary saturation of calcium oxalate rose by only 41% during calcium citrate treatment, due mainly to citrate complexation of calcium (rather than by 62% without such complexation). Moreover, the formation product of calcium oxalate rose during treatment, indicating that the enhanced citrate excretion augmented the inhibitor activity against calcium oxalate crystallization. Thus, calcium citrate may not be attendant with the risk for stone formation usually associated with calcium supplementation.