Calcium+Oxalate+Formation

Contrasting Effects of Grapefruit Juice, Lemon Juice, and Water on Kidney Stone Model

By: Brian Jing, Birk Mitau, Daniel Porter

Abstract About 5% of American women and 12% of men will develop a kidney stone at some time in their life. The purpose of the lab was to produce the calcium oxalate crystals responsible for the formation of kidney stones and to observe the effects of lemon juice and grapefruit juice on the crystallization. Calcium oxalate crystals are one of the most common components of kidney stones. To inhibit the crystallization, lemon juice was added to the mixture, and to promote crystallization grapefruit juice was added to the mixture. Citric acid, found in lemon juice has been shown to inhibit calcium oxalate crystallization, but there is little agreement as to why grapefruit juice promotes crystallization. Through two trials with slightly different procedures, no control successfully produced calcium oxalate in its crystallized form. Thus, the efficacy of lemon juice and grapefruit juice on preventing or promoting the crystallization could not be determined. One possible way to improve the procedure would be to take note of and adjust the pH levels throughout the experiment. Crystal formation has been observed in vivo, but crystal formation occurs under very specific conditions in vitro. Key Terms: Calcium Oxalate, Kidney Stones, Crystallization, Citric Acid, pH || Graphic Results:
 * **KIDNEY STONES: THE FORMATION OF CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS. Birk Mitau, Daniel Porter, Brian Jing**

Figure 1. Grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and control of tests on calcium oxalate

Figure 2. Lap Apparatus

media type="file" key="science wiki.mp3"

Journal Citations:

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