Effect of L-cysteine on some urinary risk factors in experimental hyperoxaluric rats.

Objective: To study the effect of L-cysteine on urinary risk factors in hyperoxaluric urolithiasis in rats.

Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups of six rats each; those in Group I served as controls, those in Group II had hyperoxaluria induced using sodium glycollate, those in Group III were given cysteine alone and those in Group IV were given sodium glycollate and cysteine. Samples of 24 h urine were collected and analysed to determine the content of calcium, oxalate, phosphorus and magnesium, and the organic acids, glycollic, glyoxylic and citric acid.

Results: Hyperoxaluric rats treated with cysteine had significantly lower excretion rates of calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, glycollic and glyoxylic acid than the glycollate fed rats. When cysteine was given, the excretion of urinary citric acid and magnesium were also increased.

Conclusions: Cysteine may be a useful agent in preventing oxalate urolithiasis.