OXALATES & CHRONIC DISEASE: HOW THE HEALTHY FOODS YOU LOVE MAY BE MAKING YOU SICK
by Julie Matthews on January 29, 2016 https://bioindividualnutrition.com/oxalates-their-influence-on-chronic-disease/
New science and clinical experience reveal concerns about oxalates that far exceed traditional kidney stone pathology. In order to best support their patients and clients, integrative practitioners, and especially diet and nutrition specialists would benefit from greater understanding of their influence.
Oxalates are highly reactive molecules; they present in our body as sharp crystals or crystalline structures with jagged edges that cause pain, irritation, and distress. They can bind with certain minerals; particularly calcium and magnesium, as well as iron and copper. Having high oxalate in the body can be problematic; and not giving proper consideration to one’s oxalate intake can impede the effectiveness of even the best healing diet protocol.
High oxalate in the body (hyperoxaluria) can be a factor in many chronic conditions; including digestive issues, autoimmune disorders, and neurological conditions. Oxalates affect mitochondrial function and can create inflammation; thus influencing every system in the body.
This article explores the repercussions of the oxalate cascade in a variety of chronic diseases; and my follow-up article will specifically investigate oxalates and autism – and how you, the knowledgeable practitioner, can help.
Understanding Oxalates
Although most commonly identified with the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones (oxalate bound to calcium), when unbound, free oxalate can interfere with cellular functions; affecting health on a broader, systemic level. Clinical studies and anecdotal experience indicate that oxidative stress, mitochondrial disruption and damage, and nutrient depletions, trigger widely varied symptoms including fatigue and inflammatory cascades, joint pain or pain anywhere in the body. Chronic low energy is very common because of a reduction in ATP in the mitochondria. Oxalates could be a hidden source of headaches, urinary pain, genital irritation, joint, muscle, intestinal or eye pain.
Other common oxalate-caused symptoms may include mood conditions, anxiety, sleep problems, weakness, or burning feet. Indicators can be digestive, respiratory, or even bedwetting for children.
It’s important to note that oxalates can inhibit the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals; which actually makes oxalates an “anti-nutrient.” Minerals in food become bound by oxalate – for instance calcium (thereby forming insoluble calcium oxalate) – and cannot then be absorbed properly by the intestinal tract. This can lead to mineral deficiencies, such as calcium and/or magnesium deficiency.
In the gut of a healthy person, oxalates typically bind together with these minerals (are not absorbed through the gut), then eliminated in the stool. While this inhibits absorption of nutrients, beneficially this ensures they are excreted rather than crossing the gut into the blood stream and causing cellular distress and damage.
High Oxalate
Once oxalate gets into cells where it can disrupt mitochondrial function; it can cause all sorts of systemic disturbances. Here are some of the varied effects of high oxalate in the cells and tissues – that we’ll explore through the course of this article:
- Disrupt mineral absorption and usage
- Impair cellular energy
- Deplete nutrients like glutathione and interfering with biotin
- Create oxidative stress[1]
- Activate the immune system to trigger inflammatory cascades
- Interfere with and damage mitochondrial function[2]
- Damage cells and tissues
- Cause seizures during toxic exposure to oxalate[3],[4],[5]
- Cause faulty sulfation
- Cause histamine release
High Oxalate Foods
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Almonds and almond flour
- All nuts
- Chia seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Buckwheat
- Quinoa
- Most legumes
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Chocolate
- Beets
- Autism[7],[8]
- Food sensitivity[9]
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Migraine
- Chronic fatigue syndrome[10]
- Rheumatoid arthritis[10]
- Lupus[10]
- Inflammatory bowel disease[10]
- Asthma[10]
- Depression[10]
- Hyperactivity[10]
- Autism
- Alzheimer’s
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Seizures
- Parkinson’s
- Hypertension
- Retinopathy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Obesity
- Cancer
There are even more pieces to this puzzle. High oxalate can lead to oxidative stress, and subsequently inflammation and injury,[12],[13] which can cause oxalate stone formation in the kidney, and damage to any soft tissue or area of the body where they interfere with cellular function.
High oxalates can elevate superoxide and deplete glutathione and antioxidant status.[14] Conversely, antioxidants and free radical scavengers can decrease oxalate stone formation in the kidney, as well as reducing the inflammation caused by oxalate.
Oxidative stress, inflammation, and low glutathione status are common manifestations in many chronic diseases. Understanding this relationship and the potential sources of chronic inflammation and stress can help practitioners appropriately address the triggers that can be causing the problems, and in this case, oxalate is an important factor to consider.
Conditions linked to oxidative stress and inflammation:
- Autism [15], [16], [17]
- Asthma
- Allergies
- ADHD [18]
- Autoimmune conditions
- Depression [19], [20]
- Anxiety [21], [22]
- Inflammatory bowel disorders
- Eczema
- Schizophrenia [23], [24]
- Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes
- Asthma
- Autism[25]
- Autoimmune thyroid or other autoimmunity
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cystic Fibrosis[26]
- Fibromyalgia
- Hypothyroid[27]
- IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)[28]
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Kidney Stones in family
- Low muscle tone
- Migraine and Headaches
- Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction
- Rett Syndrome[29]
- Seizures
- Vulvodynia