Potassium cuts kidney stones in children

Children on the high-fat ketogenic or 'K diet' to control epileptic seizures can prevent the development of painful kidney stones that the diet can sometimes cause if they take a daily supplement of potassium citrate.

The ketogenic diet is a high fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate diet used effectively in many children with epileptic seizures who do not respond to drug therapy. It is believed to work by initiating biochemical changes that eliminate seizure-triggering short circuits in the brain's signaling system. But the diet, which is made up of high-fat foods with very few carbohydrates, causes a buildup of calcium in the urine and the formation of kidney stones in about 6 percent of those on it.

Researchers from America studied 313 children who were treated for epilepsy with the ketogenic diet to find out the efficiency of potassium citrate supplements in preventing kidney stones. All the children were treated with potassium citrate 2 mEq/kg who were identified with excessive urinary calcium excretion.   

It was found that there was a 7-fold drop in kidney stones in all patients on the ketogenic diet when potassium citrate was used universally at the start of the diet. Potassium citrate taken twice daily, either as powder sprinkled on food or dissolved in water, is believed to inhibit stone formation. It is thought that that by making the urine alkaline, urine calcium becomes more soluble and is excreted, thus reducing the risk for kidney stones.

The researchers concluded that potassium citrate supplements are safe and powerful way to prevent kidney stones, and should become part of standard therapy in all ketogenic dieters.