Probiotic hope for kidney stones (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Treating patients with bacteria may be an effective way of reducing their risk of repeatedly developing painful kidney stones, a study suggests.

People naturally carrying the bacterium Oxalobacter formigenes were found to be 70% less likely to have problems.

Researchers at Boston University, in the US, are now investigating the possibility of using the bacteria as a "probiotic" treatment.
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Up to 80% of kidney stones are predominately composed of a compound called calcium oxalate.

O. formigenes breaks down oxalate in the intestinal tract and is present in a large proportion of the normal adult population.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7277967.stm

[Eurobabe]

1. Very interesting news indeed!

My one stone was calcium oxalate, and I never want one of those again! Thanks for this article. :hi:

[longship]

2. I've had a lifetime of them... *Five* attacks!!

You have no idea how painful these things are. Furthermore, under today's healthcare system it can take months... MONTHS!!! to get treatment authorized. During my last attack, two years ago, I was hospitalized for pain control twice while I was forced to wait for approval to have the laser procedure which basically rid me of the stones. During that time I was eating Vicodin and even Oxycotin like candy to be able to continue working. (I was a high school math teacher.) The procedure took one day, outpatient, and I was cured. Yet it took six months to get it approved. It's UTTER MADNESS!!!

I will be filing this in my health file. The next time I see my urologist I'm going to be citing this to him.

Thanks much.