Changes in the pH of the urine that causes acid or alkaline imbalances can also affect stone precipitation. Causes of Calcium Stones Calcium stones usually form when there are imbalances of components in the urine that either promote or inhibit formation of the stone. Some people have inherited dispositions for kidney stones, although other triggering factors are usually present, such as diets overly rich in proteins and oxalates and low in fiber and fluid. An interesting focus of investigation is the discovery of tiny bacteria, termed nanobacteria, which may play a role in kidney stones and other conditions in which calcification occurs. Such bacteria coat themselves with mineral deposits that resemble the composition of kidney stones.
Cells infected with the bacteria develop mineral deposits both on the inside and outside.
Researchers have also observed that nanobacteria are also able to pass from the blood into the urine. Hypercalciuria Hypercalciuria indicates that there is too much calcium in the urine. Certain cancers and sarcoidosis, a chronic disorder marked by small bumps on the organs, can also cause excess calcium. Of interest is a gene known as CLCN5, which regulates chloride in the urine and which is defective in many patients with calcium stones. Chloride has a negative charge and calcium a positive one, so they are often used by the body to balance each other.