Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Research shows that vitamin C and E supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels following lithotripsy for renal stone disease.
Lithotripsy was invented in 1980 and was revolutionary in treating kidney stones (1) but it is not free of complications. With its delivery of shock waves to help destroy the stones, lithotripsy can cause trauma to the thin‑walled blood vessels in the kidneys and surrounding tissues (2). This can potentially lead to the formation of scar tissue and possible loss of kidney function in the long-term. High-sensitivity C‑reactive protein levels are a reliable indicator of this scar tissue formation in the kidneys (3). As a result, ways to help maintain healthy inflammation levels by limiting scar tissue formation from lithotripsy are needed.
Now a new study (4) suggests that vitamin C and E supplementation may help. The study involved 107 subjects (89 males, 16 females) aged 35 to 45, having kidney stones smaller than 1.5 centimeters. They were given either 1000 milligrams of vitamin C per day, 1,000 IU/day of vitamin E, or a placebo for 2 days before lithotripsy and then for 7 days afterward. Blood samples were taken 2 days before, and then 7 and 28 days after lithotripsy to measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels.
The researchers noted the following changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (measured as milligrams/deciliters) before and after lithotripsy:
| 2 days before | 7 days after | 28 days after | p - value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo group | 2.59 | 5.58 (115% increase) | 4.48 (73% increase) | 0.005 |
| Vitamin E | 2.6 | 2.69 (3.4% increase) | 2.11 ( 18.9% decrease) | 0.004 |
| Vitamin C | 3.13 | 2.45 (22.8% decrease) | 1.52 (51.5% decrease) | 0.004 |
For the researchers, “Our results prove that use of Vitamin C and E as antioxidants during lithotripsy lead to a reduction in serum levels of the inflammatory marker by scavenging free radical species in renal tissue.” They went on to further conclude that “vitamin C and E can be useful in minimizing the kidney injury following lithotripsy for renal stone disease” but do states that “further long‑term multicentric study is needed to confirm these findings.”
Source: Modi, Jayesh, et al. “Role of Vitamin C and E supplementation in reduction of serum level of renal injury marker following shock wave lithotripsy: Prospective single centre experience.” Urology annals 7.3 (2015): 350.
Posted August 18, 2015.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com
References:
- Chaussy C, Schüller J, Schmiedt E, Brandl H, Jocham D, Liedl B. Extracorporeal shock‑wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for treatment of urolithiasis. Urology 1984;23:59‑66
- Matlaga BR, McAteer JA, Connors BA, Handa RK, Evan AP, Williams JC, et al. Potential for cavitation‑mediated tissue damage in shockwave lithotripsy. J Endourol 2008;22:121‑6
- Rifai N, Ridker PM. Inflammatory markers and coronary heart disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 2002;13:383‑9.
- Modi J. Role of Vitamin C and E supplementation in reduction of serum level of renal injury marker following shock wave lithotripsy: Prospective single centre experience. Urol Ann 2015 Jul-Sep;7(3):350-4. doi: 10.4103/0974-7796.156143
