Reduction of the urinary risk factors of urolithiasis with magnesium and tartrate mixture: a new treatment.

Magnesium and tartrate each reduce calcium oxalate crystal formation in urine. Since the effects are additive, a palatable mixture of magnesium and tartrate salts was devised and fed to 6 healthy volunteers. There were no side effects. There was a moderate fall in urinary calcium, moderate rises in urinary magnesium, tartrate and citrate, and no change in urinary oxalate. Hence there are good grounds for supposing that this mixture could be used to prevent urinary stone recurrence.