So it s important to know the kind of stone you have formed, doctors say. The only way to do that is with laboratory analysis of a captured stone. The most common type of kidney stone, made of calcium oxalate, is found in more than 80 percent of cases. It s also important to know why you re forming stones. The only way to do that is with urine and blood tests and measures of levels of some hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, which regulates body levels of calcium , explains Freda Levy, M.D., clinical associate professor at Methodist Medical Center in Dallas.
People form stones for lots of different reasons, including metabolic abnormalities and infections.
Check with your doctor to make sure you re selecting the best dietary changes for your specific condition before you try any of these measures, she adds. The chemistry behind kidney stone formation is complex. Some doctors believe that the ratio of calcium to magnesium , another essential mineral, in the diet is important. Most kidney specialists believe that there s only a minor role, if any, for magnesium in the treatment of kidney stones. They might recommend supplemental magnesium to someone whose urine is low in magnesium and high in calcium , which is a rare condition, says Fred Coe, M.D., professor of medicine and physiology and chief of nephrology at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.