A further study of oxalate bioavailability in foods

J Urol. 1990 Jul;144(1):94-6. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)39377-1.

Abstract

We extended the study of oxalate bioavailability by testing 7 additional food items: brewed tea, tea with milk, turnip greens, okra, peanuts and almonds. Nine normal subjects ingested a large serving of each of these items. The bioavailable oxalate was calculated from the increment in urinary oxalate during 8 hours after ingestion and bioavailability was determined as the percentage of total oxalate content in a given food item represented by bioavailable oxalate. Brewed tea and tea with milk, with a high oxalate content, had a low bioavailable oxalate level (1.17 and 0.44 mg. per load) because of the low oxalate availability (bioavailability of 0.08 and 0.03%). Turnip greens, with a satisfactory oxalate bioavailability (5.8%), had a negligible effect on urinary oxalate excretion, since oxalate content was relatively low (12 mg. per load). Okra, with a moderate oxalate content (264 mg. per load) had a negligible bioavailable oxalate (0.28 mg. per load). Only peanuts and almonds provided a moderate increase in oxalate excretion (3 to 5 mg. per load) due to the modest oxalate content (116 and 131 mg. per load) and oxalate bioavailability (3.8 and 2.8%). Thus, the ability of various oxalate-rich foods to augment urinary oxalate excretion depends not only on oxalate content but on the bioavailability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biological Availability
  • Female
  • Food*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nuts / analysis
  • Oxalates / analysis
  • Oxalates / pharmacokinetics*
  • Oxalates / urine
  • Tea / analysis
  • Vegetables / analysis

Substances

  • Oxalates
  • Tea