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To establish the relationship between calcium nephrolithiasis, bone densitometry scoring, and bone mineral density (BMD) loss according to bone turnover markers (BTMs) and urinary metabolites.Patients with recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis and idiopathic fasting hypercalciuria (urinary calcium/creatinine ratio0.11) are more likely to have BMD loss that may lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis. In these patients, BTMs may be used as a surrogate for both bone health and stone recurrence. Suspect higher lithogenic states when calcium stone formers have serum beta-crosslaps (resorptive marker) greater than 0.311 ng/ml, serum osteocalcin (formative marker) greater than 13.2 ng/ml, and beta-crosslaps/osteocalcin ratio greater than 0.024.Patients with recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis and fasting hypercalciuria have a higher incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis, measured by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. These patients present not only with hypercalciuria and increased BTMs (mainly resorptive), but also up to 30% have hypocitraturia and increased urinary calcium/citrate ratio (0.25). On the basis of these results, a diagnostic algorithm was created, classifying hypercalciurics according to their fasting calcium/creatinine and calcium/citrate ratio. Medical therapy for these patients is aimed at improving the dietary habits (normocalcemic, low salt, low animal protein diet), prescribing combinations of potassium citrate, thiazides, and bisphosphonates, and correcting bone and urinary abnormalities that may lower future skeletal and kidney stone risk.

Purpose: Pharmacological treatment of hypocitraturic calcium nephrolithiasis requires as many as 12 tablets, or numerous crystal packages or liquid supplements taken throughout the day. In addition to added cost, this cumbersome regimen decreases patient compliance, which may increase stone recurrence rates. We evaluated the urinary biochemical effects of dietary citrate supplementation in hypocitraturic calcium stone formers in an attempt to decrease or eliminate the need for pharmacological therapy.Materials and Methods: A total of 12 patients who were either noncompliant with or intolerant of pharmacological citrate therapy supplemented their routine diet with citrate in the form of lemonade, consisting of 4 ounces of reconstituted lemon juice (5.9 gm. citric acid) mixed with tap water to a total volume of 2 1. and consumed at uniform intervals throughout the day. Urine specimens (24-hour) were obtained for biochemical analysis after 6 days of lemonade therapy and compared to pre-lemonade basel...