Effect of Black Tea Consumption on Urinary Risk Factors for Kidney Stone Formation

Copious fluid intake is the most essential nutritional measure in the treatment of urolithiasis, and is suggested to be a protective factor in the primary prevention of urinary stone formation. Although the intake of black tea contributes to daily fluid intake, the high oxalate content could outweigh the beneficial effect of urine dilution. The present study investigated the effect of black tea consumption on urinary risk factors for kidney stone formation. Ten healthy men received a standardized diet for a period of ten days. Subjects consumed 1.5 L/day of fruit tea (0 mg/day oxalate) during the 5-day control phase, which was replaced by 1.5 L/day of black tea (86 mg/day oxalate) during the 5-day test phase. Fractional and 24-h urines were obtained. The intake of black tea did not significantly alter 24-h urinary oxalate excretion. Urinary citrate, an important inhibitor of calcium stone formation, increased significantly, while the relative supersaturation of calcium oxalate, uric acid, and struvite remained unchanged. No significantly increased risk for kidney stone formation could be derived from the ingestion of black tea in normal subjects. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of black tea consumption in kidney stone patients with intestinal hyperabsorption of oxalate.