Zinc can inhibit the growth of calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common type of kidney stone. Zinc binds to oxalate in the urine, preventing it from binding to calcium and forming crystals. This can help to prevent the formation of new calcium oxalate stones and can also help to dissolve existing stones.
However, zinc can promote the growth of struvite stones, which are a type of kidney stone that is made up of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Zinc can increase the amount of magnesium and ammonium in the urine, which can lead to the formation of struvite stones.
Therefore, the effect of zinc on kidney stone growth depends on the specific type of stone. In some cases, zinc can be helpful in preventing or dissolving kidney stones, while in other cases it can promote the growth of stones.
