Evidence supporting the use of: Phosphate Salt
For the health condition: Kidney Stones

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Phosphate salts have a documented history of use in the medical management of certain types of kidney stones, particularly calcium oxalate stones. The rationale behind their use is based on their ability to increase urinary phosphate levels, which can reduce calcium excretion and promote the formation of more soluble calcium phosphate compounds rather than calcium oxalate, which is less soluble and more likely to form stones. Clinical studies from the 1970s and 1980s showed that oral phosphate supplementation could decrease the recurrence rate of calcium oxalate stones in some patients. For example, a study by Pak et al. (1972) demonstrated that phosphate therapy led to a significant decrease in stone formation among recurrent stone formers.

However, phosphate salt therapy is not universally accepted as a first-line treatment due to concerns about patient compliance, potential side effects (such as gastrointestinal upset and risk of soft tissue calcification), and the availability of alternative treatments like thiazide diuretics and citrate supplementation. Modern guidelines tend to reserve phosphate supplementation for select cases, particularly when other interventions are ineffective or contraindicated. Overall, the evidence base is moderate (rating 3/5), with well-documented but older studies supporting its efficacy, though more contemporary large-scale trials are lacking.

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