Could a harmless gut bug help prevent kidney stones?
NCT ID NCT03752684
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether taking a harmless bacterium called Oxalobacter formigenes could help it live in the gut and reduce the amount of oxalate passed in urine. High urine oxalate is a major risk factor for calcium oxalate kidney stones. Twenty-six healthy adults who did not already have the bacterium in their gut took a live preparation of it and followed a controlled diet. The goal was to see if the bacterium could lower urinary oxalate levels.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Oxalobacter formigenes (a harmless gut bacterium)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a natural way to lower oxalate levels and reduce the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early study in healthy adults, not patients with kidney stones. It only looked at short-term changes in urine oxalate, so it is unclear if the effect lasts or prevents stones.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States