Influence of Obesity on Endogenous Oxalate Synthesis

Calcium oxalate stone disease results in billions of dollars in healthcare costs per year, creates large economic losses due to decreased work productivity, and produces significant pain and suffering in affected individuals impacting quality of life. Almost 9% of the population in the United States may now experience a stone event at least once in their lifetime and that figure is increasing. Although stone removing treatments have advanced in the last few decades with a variety of minimally invasive procedures such as shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy, our knowledge of how stones form and how to prevent them has not kept pace. Approximately 70-80% of the stones formed contain oxalate. Oxalate is an end product of metabolism and an ubiquitous element of human diets. Small increases in urinary oxalate can increase calcium oxalate crystal formation and thus stone disease. Urinary oxalate levels are affected by both dietary and endogenous components, complicating the discrimination between the two sources. Multiple epidemiological and clinical studies have demonstrated a link between body mass index (BMI) and kidney stone disease and also an increased urinary oxalate excretion.

The interpretation of studies suggesting a link between obesity and the amount of urinary oxalate excreted is confounded by the failure in most studies to use diets controlled in calcium and oxalate. Adult humans without a history of kidney stones will be placed on controlled low oxalate diets to estimate the contribution of endogenous oxalate synthesis to the urinary oxalate pool. In addition, oral doses of 13C2-glycolate and 13C6- vitamin C will be used to determine their conversions to 13C2-oxalate and provide an index of endogenous oxalate production. Body morphometric indices, markers of oxidative stress, and insulin resistance will be assessed in these subjects.They will also be evaluated with DXA and MRI to define body fat content and distribution.