Effect of ethyl icosapentate on urinary calcium and oxalate excretion.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The effect of ethyl icosapentate (EPA-E) on urinary calcium and oxalic acid excretion was examined to evaluate whether EPA-E is useful in the prevention of calcium-containing urinary stones.

METHODS:

For 6 months, urine was measured daily from 40 calcium-containing urinary stone producers at an outpatient clinic, before and after the administration of 1800 mg/day EPA-E. The urine was measured for volume, urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, uric acid, oxalic acid and citric acid. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were also measured.

RESULTS:

Urinary calcium excretion was not reduced in any of the patients or particular hypercalciuric groups, nor did the level of calcium change. However, nine of the 25 hypercalciuric patients experienced a significant urinary calcium reduction to the normal calciuric level (a reduction of approximately 44%). It is not known why these particular patients experienced a reduction. Urinary oxalic acid did not change, whether hypercalciuria was present or not.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that EPA-E is not particularly effective in reducing urinary calcium excretion in the hypercalciuric patients, but it needs future investigation because some patients experienced significant urinary calcium reduction.

• Authors: E Konya, H Tsuji, T Umekawa, T Kurita, M Iguchi
• Journal: International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association (Int J Urol) Vol. 7 Issue 10 Pg. 361-5 (Oct 2000) ISSN: 0919-8172 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 11144503 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Triglycerides
• Uric Acid
• eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester
• Cholesterol
• Oxalic Acid
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid
• Magnesium
• Creatine
• Calcium

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Blood Urea Nitrogen
• Calcium (urine)
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Creatine (urine)
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Magnesium (urine)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oxalic Acid (urine)
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Uric Acid (urine)
• Urinary Calculi (blood, drug therapy, urine)