Evidence supporting the use of: Sodium Bicarbonate
For the health condition: Kidney Stones

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used in the management of certain types of kidney stones, particularly uric acid stones. The scientific rationale is based on its ability to alkalinize urine. Uric acid stones form in acidic urine, so raising the urinary pH (making it less acidic) can help dissolve existing stones and prevent new ones from forming. Sodium bicarbonate, as an oral alkalinizing agent, increases urinary pH, thereby reducing the risk of uric acid crystallization and promoting stone dissolution.

Clinical guidelines and studies support the use of sodium bicarbonate or other alkalinizing agents (like potassium citrate) in patients with uric acid stones or in those who are at risk of forming such stones. For example, the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology both mention urine alkalinization as a therapeutic option for uric acid stones. However, for other types of kidney stones, such as calcium oxalate or struvite stones, sodium bicarbonate is not generally indicated and could sometimes be contraindicated.

The evidence supporting sodium bicarbonate’s use in uric acid stones is moderate; it is mechanistically sound and used in clinical practice, but large, high-quality randomized controlled trials are limited. Its use should be supervised by a healthcare provider due to potential side effects like metabolic alkalosis, sodium overload, and worsening of hypertension or heart failure.

More about Sodium Bicarbonate
More about Kidney Stones

Products containing Sodium Bicarbonate

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.