The inhibitory activity of some citrate analogues upon calcium crystalluria: observations using an improved urine evaporation technique.

The ability of three compounds, all similar in chemical structure to citric acid, to decrease calcium crystalluria has been measured. The measurements were made in normal human urine at 37 degrees C and compared with the crystal-decreasing power of citric acid when measured in the same way and in the same urine samples. One of the compounds tested, phosphocitric acid, was more potent than citric acid in inhibiting calcium oxalate crystal precipitation. At higher concentrations it also proved more effective against calcium phosphate. A urine evaporation method was used to carry out the crystal inhibition tests after modification to improve its precision.