Kidney stones (Nephrolithiasis)
Supplements studied for kidney stones (nephrolithiasis).
Overview
Vitamin B6 and potassium citrate have medium-strength evidence for kidney stones across 14 studies combined. Vitamin B6 may lower urine oxalates, particularly in people with type I primary hyperoxaluria, and combined with magnesium may reduce oxalate levels in others.
Prescription potassium citrate appears to help prevent stone recurrence by increasing protective substances in urine, though over-the-counter potassium products are less studied. Black Tea, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Boron have limited or unclear evidence; boron did not help stones pass faster than tamsulosin in one large trial. The heatmap and evidence reviews below compare these options.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Vitamin B6 | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Boron | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Black Tea | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Apple Cider Vinegar | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Potassium | ★★★★★ | Low |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
6 supplements for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Vitamin B6View supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Taking vitamin B6 by mouth may help lower substances in the urine (oxalates) that can cause kidney stones, especially in people with a rare inherited condition called type I primary hyperoxaluria.
- Some studies show that vitamin B6, alone or with magnesium, can reduce these substances.
- In one study, giving vitamin B6 by IV reduced urine oxalate by about 25%.
- For people with high oxalate levels without a known cause, taking vitamin B6 (25 mg) and magnesium (400 mg) daily for 3 months lowered oxalate by about 16%, but following a low-oxalate diet helped more.
- Some evidence suggests women who take more vitamin B6 might have a lower chance of kidney stones, but this hasn't been seen in men.
Browse 12 studies
RCTProspective Randomized Evaluation of Idiopathic Hyperoxaluria Treatments2021n=164
A randomized trial of 164 patients with a documented history of caox stones and newly found that 400 mg conclusion: Low oxalate diet is more effective than B6/magnesium supplementation at lowering urinary oxalate in idiopathic hyperoxaluric stone formers.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 400 mg
- Population
- Patients With A Documented History Of Caox Stones And Newly
- Participants
- 164
Clinical trialVitamin B6 in primary hyperoxaluria I: first prospective trial after 40 years of practice2014n=12
A study of 12 found that 5 mg/kg this first prospective trial confirmed B6 efficacy in 50% of patients (three of three homozygous, one of five heterozygous, and two of four patients negative for the Gly170Arg and/or Phe152Ile mutations).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 24 weeks
- Dose
- 5 mg/kg
- Population
- Patients with primary hyperoxaluria
- Participants
- 12
ObservationalIntake of vitamins B6 and C and the risk of kidney stones in women1999n=85,557
An observational study of 85557 women found that 40 mg/day after adjusting for other dietary factors, the relative risk of incident stone formation for women in the highest category of B6 intake (> or =40 mg/d) compared with the lowest category ( or =1500 mg/d) compared with the lowest category (<250 mg/d) was 1.06 (95% confidence.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 40 mg/day
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 85,557
ObservationalA prospective study of the intake of vitamins C and B6, and the risk of kidney stones in men1996n=45,251
An observational study of 45251 (ages 40–75) found that after adjusting for other potential stone risk factors the relative risks did not change significantly.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 40 mg/day
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 45,251
- Ages
- 40–75
Open-labelEffect of combined supplementation of magnesium oxide and pyridoxine in calcium-oxalate stone formers1994
A study found that 300 mg/day serum Mg significantly (P < 0.01) increased after 30 days of treatment and remained constant thereafter while other blood parameters were unaltered.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 120 days
- Dose
- 300 mg/day
Control of hyperoxaluria with large doses of pyridoxine in patients with kidney stones1988n=12
A study of 12 patients with kidney stones found that 500 mg/day for 18 months this therapy decreased urinary oxalate excretion significantly (p less than 0.025) during up to 18 months of treatment.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 18 months
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
- Population
- Patients With Kidney Stones
- Participants
- 12
Primary hyperoxaluria: effect of treatment with vitamin B6 and shock waves1987
A study found that primary hyperoxaluria: effect of treatment with vitamin B6 and shock waves..
- Effect
- Benefit
Mild metabolic hyperoxaluria and its response to pyridoxine1986
A study found that it is important to measure urinary oxalate (and glycollate) in all cases of calcium oxalate urolithiasis.
Response to a physiologic dose of pyridoxine in type I primary hyperoxaluria1985
A study in patients with primary hyperoxaluria found that 200 mg/day the degree of hyperoxaluria in this disorder may be only slight or moderate if the patient has been ingesting a pyridoxine-rich diet or multivitamin tablets containing small amounts of pyridoxine.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Population
- Patients With Primary Hyperoxaluria
Pyridoxine therapy of adult primary oxalosis1979
A study in adults found that pyridoxine therapy of adult primary oxalosis..
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults
Open-labelThe evaluation of some biochemical parameters in pyridoxine-treated calcium oxalate renal stone formers1977
A study found that 20 mg 3×/day it is suggested that long-term studies are necessary to search the factors influencing successful stone prevention or stone recurrency in pyridoxine-treatment patients.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 20 mg 3×/day
- Population
- Kidney stone formers
Effect of daily MgO and vitamin B6 administration to patients with recurring calcium oxalate kidney stones1967
A study in patients with recurring calcium oxalate kidney stones found that effect of daily MgO and vitamin B6 administration to patients with recurring calcium oxalate kidney stones..
- Population
- Patients With Recurring Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones
Apple Cider VinegarView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is uncertain whether apple cider vinegar helps prevent kidney stones.
- Some population studies suggest that fermented vinegar might reduce the risk, but no clinical studies have tested apple cider vinegar specifically.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalPrevalence of kidney stones in China: an ultrasonography based cross-sectional study2017n=17
A Chinese cross-sectional ultrasound study of 9,310 adults found 6.4% had kidney stones; higher tea, legume, and fermented vinegar intake correlated with lower stone risk.
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 17
- Ages
- 18+
Black TeaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is unclear whether drinking black tea helps prevent kidney stones.
- Some studies suggest that drinking one 8-ounce cup of tea daily might lower the risk of kidney stones by about 8% in women.
- But a small study found that drinking a large amount of black tea for a few days did not change urine factors that cause kidney stones.
- More research is needed to know if black tea itself or its caffeine affects kidney stone risk.
Browse 2 studies
Effect of Black Tea Consumption on Urinary Risk Factors for Kidney Stone Formation2021n=10
In 10 healthy men, replacing fruit tea with 1.5 L/day black tea (86 mg/day oxalate) for 5 days did not significantly change 24-h urinary oxalate, citrate, or calcium oxalate supersaturation.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 5 days
- Dose
- 86 mg/day
- Population
- Men
- Participants
- 10
ObservationalBeverage use and risk for kidney stones in women1998n=81,093
In 81,093 Nurses' Health Study women followed 8 years, each 240-mL/day tea was associated with 9% lower kidney stone risk; higher total fluid intake reduced stone risk overall.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 8 years
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 81,093
- Ages
- 40–65
BoronView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Taking boron 10 mg twice a day for 2 weeks does not help kidney stones pass any faster than the medicine tamsulosin, according to a large clinical study.
- Boron did cause fewer side effects like dizziness, headaches, nausea, and erectile problems compared to tamsulosin.
Browse 1 study
Clinical trialPreliminary evidence hints at a protective role for boron in urolithiasis2012
Preliminary evidence suggests dietary boron may play a protective role against urolithiasis (kidney stone formation), though detailed clinical outcome data were not reported in this brief report.
- Effect
- Benefit
Green TeaView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Research shows that men who drink green tea have about a 22% lower chance, and women a 16% lower chance, of developing kidney stones compared with those who don’t drink green tea.
- Green tea contains antioxidants that may help stop stones from forming in the kidneys.
- More research is needed to be sure.
Browse 1 study
ObservationalGreen tea intake and risk of incident kidney stones: Prospective cohort studies in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals2019n=69
In two Shanghai cohorts (58,054 men and 69,166 women), higher green tea intake was associated with lower incident kidney stone risk after multivariable adjustment.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Older adults
- Participants
- 69
- Ages
- 40–74
PotassiumView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Prescription potassium citrate taken by mouth helps prevent kidney stones from coming back, especially in people who have certain types of stones or low levels of citrate in their urine.
- This medicine works by increasing substances in the urine that stop stones from forming and by making the urine less acidic.
- While sodium citrate can also help, potassium citrate is usually preferred because sodium may increase calcium in the urine, which can promote stones.
- It is not clear if over-the-counter potassium citrate supplements have the same effect.
Browse 2 studies
GuideKidney Stones: Treatment and Prevention2019n=1,000
A review of kidney stone management recommends increased fluid intake, thiazides, allopurinol, or citrates for recurrence prevention based on stone type and metabolic evaluation.
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 1,000
GuideMedical management of kidney stones: AUA guideline2014
The AUA kidney stone guideline recommends metabolic evaluation and targeted diet or medication (thiazides, citrate, allopurinol) for recurrent stone formers based on 46 evidence-based studies.
- Population
- Adults
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B6 | ★★★★★64% | 12 | 0 | 63% |
| Black Tea | ★★★★★40% | 2 | 0 | 11% |
| Potassium | ★★★★★32% | 2 | 0 | 11% |
| Apple Cider Vinegar | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| Boron | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 5% |
| Green Tea | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 5% |