Calcium in urine [Archive] - Medical Information - Discussion Gateway for Medical Health

Asaf

08-30-2003, 02:10 PM

i have osteoporosis.
while taking calcium tablets , excessive level of calcium was detected
in my urea. therefore my doctor instructed me to stop taking the
tablets completely. should i stop eating food rich in calcium or, may
be, to the contrary - increase eating calcium rich foods?

thanks in advance,
Joe

Art S

08-30-2003, 03:57 PM

"Asaf" <regadodli@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:44e71ca0.0308300910.17ee6a5f@posting.google.c om...
> i have osteoporosis.
> while taking calcium tablets , excessive level of calcium was detected
> in my urea. therefore my doctor instructed me to stop taking the
> tablets completely. should i stop eating food rich in calcium or, may
> be, to the contrary - increase eating calcium rich foods?
>
> thanks in advance,
> Joe

Find an Endocrinologist who can try to find out why you have an
excessive level of calcium in your urea (excess calcium your body doesn't
need, so it is excreting it vs. your body isn't absorbing the calcium
properly and something needs to be done so it will absorb the calcium).

You will probably need to do a blood test, 24-hour urine test, and
possibly a bone biopsy (to see if new bone is being laid down).

Oh yes - how much calcium are you getting in your diet?
(http://www.citracal.com/calciumcounter.htm might help).

How bad is your Osteoporosis? What kind of exercising are you doing?

Art

08-30-2003, 05:50 PM

Are you getting too much calcium overall?
Would changing the source help?
type of supplement &/or from foods instead?
or a mixture?

Too much at one time?
Would spreading out your intake help?

You need to pin down the doctor on just what the problem is, or see a more
specialized doctor.
bj

"Asaf" <regadodli@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:44e71ca0.0308300910.17ee6a5f@posting.google.c om...
> i have osteoporosis.
> while taking calcium tablets , excessive level of calcium was detected
> in my urea. therefore my doctor instructed me to stop taking the
> tablets completely. should i stop eating food rich in calcium or, may
> be, to the contrary - increase eating calcium rich foods?
>
> thanks in advance,
> Joe

Chip

08-30-2003, 07:36 PM

Beach Runner@nospam.com

08-30-2003, 08:49 PM

Was this an endocrinologist or a gp? These sort of things do require a
specialist to do a complete endocrinological study.

Chip wrote:

> "Asaf" <regadodli@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:44e71ca0.0308300910.17ee6a5f@posting.google.c om...
> > i have osteoporosis.
> > while taking calcium tablets , excessive level of calcium was detected
> > in my urea.
>
> You must mean your urine.
>
> > therefore my doctor instructed me to stop taking the
> > tablets completely.
>
> That means he didn't think you need a Ca supplement.
>
> > should i stop eating food rich in calcium or, may
> > be, to the contrary - increase eating calcium rich foods?
>
> If he didn't say anything, I suspect he wants you to continue your present
> diet. But I'd give him a call and ask just to be sure.
>
> >
> > thanks in advance,
> > Joe
>
> Chip

RStevrock

08-30-2003, 09:14 PM

I tend to get kidney stones. Well, one and possibly others.
According to Nancy Sniderman you should drink a glass of water before you
go to bed. When you get up to go to the bathroom, drink some more. She
indicated that the stones were formed when you sleep. In keeping with this,
why not take your last calcium at about 6:00 or 7:00 in the evening. Let it
get through your system before you go to bed.
I don't know what's wrong with having too much at a certain time. I don't
think anyone eats the exact amount of measured calcium in food to adjust to the
pills. We all probably have a combination of too little and too much all the
time.
Just my opinion.

08-31-2003, 12:53 AM

"RStevrock" <rstevrock@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030830201429.03339.00000158@mb-m11.aol.com...
> I don't know what's wrong with having too much at a certain time.

Your body does not absorb more than about 500-600 mg at once.
The rest goes down the toilet.
It's one thing if the excess is in food -- at least the food is doing other
jobs (hunger relief, enjoyment, other nutrients...). But why spend money for
supplements that are just going to be pissed away?
bj

enk

09-03-2003, 02:37 AM

> > I tend to get kidney stones. Well, one and possibly others.

I did a little research on kidney stones & calcium a while back &
there is a thread about it somewhere on this message board. I was
concerned because my brother had many kidney stones & I thought the
additional calcium I take might cause me to get one. Long story short
- excess calcium does not cause kidney stones.

I have heard that it is good to take calcium right before bed because
our bodies absorb it better while we sleep.

RStevrock

09-03-2003, 10:45 AM

>Long story short
>- excess calcium does not cause kidney stones.

Many things can cause kidney stones and when they examine the kidney stone,
they can get an idea of what it consists of. Would you see if you can find the
source that says excess calcium does not cause them? My doctor cut me back on
calcium years ago when I was hospitalized with one.
Sammy

Cylise

09-03-2003, 12:55 PM

On 03 Sep 2003 13:45:25 GMT, rstevrock@aol.com (RStevrock) wrote:

>>Long story short
>>- excess calcium does not cause kidney stones.
>
>Many things can cause kidney stones and when they examine the kidney stone,
>they can get an idea of what it consists of. Would you see if you can find the
>source that says excess calcium does not cause them? My doctor cut me back on
>calcium years ago when I was hospitalized with one.
>Sammy

Yeah, so did mine. Then I had another stone and was sent to the
urology specialist. Several years of avoiding calcium and then
finding out that calcium only is in there because it accumulates
around oxalic acid, which is the real culprit in calcium kidney
stones. No excess oxalic acid, calcium flushes right out.

Sounds right, doesn't it? The stone is mostly calcium, therefore it's
all the fault of excess calcium. Hey, if I were a doctor, I'd
believe it until it was proven otherwise. And not just proven
otherwise, but someone would inform me of it. Many doctors just don't
get the latest and greatest new information, regardless of how they
try, after they leave med school.

enk

09-03-2003, 08:50 PM

Sammy,

Type a general search on "kidney stone" and you will find lots of
information. This is from a National Institutes of Health November,
2002 newsletter. The web site is:

http://www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth/nov2002/kidneystones.htm

If you are like me, you won't be satisfied that you're doing the right
thing until you research this yourself.

Myth: Most kidney stones are formed from calcium, so calcium in the
diet should be reduced.
Fact: That used to be what doctors thought, but no longer.

For years, doctors thought a low-calcium diet was the best way to
prevent kidney stones, especially in those who already had stones. But
recent research has reversed that thinking. Dr. Hostetter explains
that several studies have shown that low-calcium diets are not
effective, and may actually be harmful, since they tend to increase
the likelihood of low-bone density and osteoporosis.

Researchers now believe that more rather than less calcium is better.
Recent studies have shown that a diet with normal amounts of calcium
is probably best. Over a period of five years, scientists studied a
group of men with recurrent kidney stones and found that those who had
normal calcium levels in their diet were less likely to form new
stones than men who were on a low-calcium diet.

Dr. Hostetter explains that calcium is important because it binds to
oxalate and removes it from the body. He adds, "The men also
restricted their intake of animal protein and salt, which may explain
why they had fewer stones."

Researchers are continuing to study the benefits of this diet. But for
now, drinking that glass of milk and cutting back on the hamburgers
and chips may help reduce your risk of kidney stones.