Tamarind ingestion and lithogenic properties of urine: Study in men

Abstract

In a controlled metabolic study, a balanced vegetarian diet based on normal ingredients of Indian foods was offered to healthy male adult volunteers. Small quantity of sesame seeds (20 g/day) was added to the diet, to boost the intake of calcium and oxalate, and thus induce calcium oxalate crystalluria in the subjects. After being on this diet for seven days, urine was collected. Subsequently, an aqueous extract of tamarind fruit (10 gm/day) was included in the above diet for a week. Lithogenic properties of urine before and after ingestion of tamarind were studied and compared. The following changes were observed in the property of urine after consuming the diet containing tamarind extract: complete disappearance of calcium oxalate crystal aggregates; fall in density of crystalluria; reduction in crystal size; decreased excretion of oxalic acid; increased excretion of phosphorus and increased inhibitory activity of urine towards calcium oxalate crystal growth. Studies of this type emphasize the utility of certain natural foods in reducing the calculogenic properties of urine. The method evolved in this study for inducing calcium oxalate crystalluria in man, can serve as an useful model for studies of this nature.