A recent article in the Journal of Urology, reported on the long term use of lemonade (3.7 years) and its beneficial effects on decreasing kidney stones. The therapy consisted of drinking 120ml of concentrated lemon juice mixed with 2 liters of water and consumed throughout the day. Prior to the experiment the patients were experiencing an average of 1 stone/year. During the 3.7 years that these same patients drank the lemonade the rate dropped to 0.13/year or an amazing 87% improvement.
This approach will benefit only those patients with hypocitraturic nepholithiasis. If you have kidney stones and want to find out whether of not you fall into this sub-class of kidney stone patients have your urine tested for citrate concentration.
Terry Pfau, DO, HMD