KIDNEY STONES IN CROHN'S DISEASE

Patients with Crohn's disease get kidney stones and it's not a coincidence, especially those who have had surgery. The reason is usually thought to be that fat is not well absorbed so it may take needed nutrients, like magnesium and certain acids. This makes it easier for tiny particles to form or get caught in the kidney. Those particles can be as tiny as a grain or sand or as big as a small pearl. 

Most of the time the particles are made of a combination of calcium and oxalate. Oxalate is found in lots of foods:

• Fruits: rhubarb, currants, canned fruit salad, strawberries, and Concord grapes
• Vegetables: beets, leeks, summer squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, and tomato soup
• Drinks: tea and instant coffee
• Nut butters, grits, tofu, nuts, and chocolate

If you or your doctor thinks you are prone to kidney stones because of your Crohn's disease, you can try to lessen your chance of getting one:

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids 
• Have only 2 or 3 servings a day of foods with a lot of calcium, such as dairy products, alternative "milks" and tofu. But remember you need calcium—if you don't get enough, that can also cause more kidney stones. Avoid antacids with calcium.
• Eat lemons or oranges, or drink fresh lemonade. Citric acid in these foods prevents stones from forming. 
• Avoid foods that are high in oxalates (listed above)