Stone Free

Kidney stones are hard mineral nuggets formed from waste products in urine. Although small (this one is pea-sized) they can cause painful blockages in our waterworks. Patients are often given a chemical called citrate to break down the stones, but it can cause serious side effects. Hydroxycitrate (HCA), an extract from the Garcinia gummi-gutta fruit, has a very similar chemical structure – and stone-crushing potential – to citrate. Thankfully, HCA appears to have fewer side effects, too – in fact it’s already widely used as a weight loss supplement. In tests to tackle kidney stones, HCA attaches to stone-forming crystals, putting strain on their flaky structure. Eventually, the stones dissolve and the leftovers pass naturally through the bladder. HCA could be an important advance in kidney stone treatment, giving some patients an alternative to a daunting session of ureteroscopy.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image courtesy of the University of Houston, TX, USA
• Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, TX, and Litholink Corporation, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, Chicago, IL, USA
• Image copyright held by the photographer
• Research published in Nature, August 2016