Crohn’s and Kidney Stones: What’s the Connection, and Can You Reduce Your Risk?
Digestive HealthCrohn's Disease

Does Crohn’s Disease Raise Your Risk of Kidney Stones?

Does Crohn’s Disease Raise Your Risk of Kidney Stones?
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Published on December 2, 2025
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Crohn’s disease comes with a higher risk of kidney stones, which are masses made of crystals that form from substances in the kidneys and travel out through the bladder and urethra.

 As kidney stones move through your urinary tract, they may cause severe pain, which is usually the primary symptom. The pain is typically located in the belly or on one side of your back, just above the hips; it’s also called flank pain.

This pain may come and go, and can occur alongside other symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and blood in your urine.

 According to one research review, having an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases your lifetime risk of kidney stones to 18 to 20 percent, and those with Crohn’s have a higher risk than people with ulcerative colitis.

 The lifetime risk is about 10 percent in the general population.

While avoiding the pain that comes with kidney stones is enough of a reason for most people to want to lower their risk, it’s particularly important with Crohn’s, because they can increase the chance of complications such as chronic kidney disease.

What’s the Link Between Crohn’s and Kidney Stones?

The impact of a number of Crohn’s-related factors, including a history of intestinal surgery, past steroid use, or a change in how your body breaks down compounds called oxalate can increase your likelihood of developing kidney stones.

 Crohn’s disease affecting the small bowel also carries a higher kidney stone risk than other types, says Sobia Mujtaba, MD, a gastroenterologist and an assistant professor of medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Intestinal Changes Pave the Way for Oxalate and Uric Acid Stones

“Two types of stones in particular are associated with Crohn’s disease: calcium oxalate and uric acid kidney stones,” says Dr. Mujtaba.

 When you eat foods with oxalate, which are compounds present mostly in plants, they can build up, combine with calcium in the body, and form a calcium oxalate stone.

“Oxalate can be found in high levels in the intestines of patients with Crohn's disease,” says Stephen J. Bickston, MD, a gastroenterologist and the associate chief of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at VCU Health’s VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia.

 Some people with Crohn’s have low levels of bacteria and electrolytes that normally break down or stick to oxalate, so their body doesn’t absorb it, says Dr. Bickston.

 “[U]nbound, undigested oxalate is absorbed into the circulation and concentrated into the kidney, [where it] causes oxalate stones.”

Unlike oxalate, most uric acid dissolves in blood. But dehydration from diarrhea with Crohn’s can make this waste product more concentrated in your bloodstream, which then forms stones in your kidneys, says Bickston.


Surgery Raises the Risk of Kidney Stones in Crohn’s

To treat Crohn’s, healthcare providers sometimes recommend surgery to remove damaged portions of your intestine, which also increases your risk of kidney stones.

 And the area removed can influence what kind of kidney stones you get, says Mujtaba.
“Patients who have had surgical resection of the small bowel, particularly those with short gut syndrome, are more predisposed to [calcium] oxalate stones, whereas those who have had their colon removed are at a higher risk of uric acid stones,” says Mujtaba.

Steroids Affect Calcium Levels and Promote Kidney Stones

Corticosteroids (also called steroids) decrease inflammation in Crohn’s disease, but are typically only recommended for short-term use because of their many side effects.

 For example, people on prednisone can experience increased calcium levels in the urine, promoting stones, says Bickston.

 One research review that included over 13 million people with an IBD found that a history of steroid therapy increased the risk of kidney stones.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Stones if You Have Crohn’s?

Although your risk of kidney stones goes up when you have Crohn’s disease, you can take steps to prevent them.

1. Stay Hydrated

When you don’t drink enough fluids throughout the day, your urine can get too concentrated, making it easier for crystals to form.

 “Drink plenty of water and electrolyte-containing drinks, especially if you have diarrhea, to reduce stasis [lack of movement] in the kidneys and keep the urinary system moving and well flushed,” says Adrienna Jirik, MD, a gastroenterologist specializing in inflammatory bowel diseases at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

You can estimate your hydration levels by looking at your urine, which should appear clear or very pale yellow. The more concentrated it is, the darker it’ll look.

 “Never walk past a water fountain," says Bickston, who heard this adage in medical school and now shares it with his patients. “Stopping to take a few sips — and perhaps top off a water flask — helps avoid dehydration.”
Try to drink up to three liters (about 101 ounces) of fluids per day, and add extra — with electrolytes — when you’re exercising or sweating on a hot day.

2. Eat Less Oxalate

You consume oxalate through several types of foods, which you can limit to avoid kidney stone formation. “Reduce the consumption of high oxalate foods, such as spinach, potatoes, beans, nuts, and chocolate,” says Dr. Jirik.

To lessen oxalate in your system, you can also decrease your intake of animal proteins like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. These proteins can make your urine more acidic, which increases your risk of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones.

 Experts recommend limiting your intake to 6 to 8 ounces (oz) of animal protein per day for the best results.

Although these limitations may protect against kidney stones, you still have to balance any diet restrictions with the risk of malnutrition in Crohn’s.

 “Unless a urologist recommends it, I very rarely advise dietary restrictions,” says Bickston.
If you don’t know which type of stone is forming, the best diet changes are also unknown, says Bickston. “[Also] many patients' food choices may already be limited by their symptoms, and we promote as diverse and healthy a diet as possible.” When in doubt, you can ask your doctor or registered dietitian for individualized dietary recommendations.

3. Eat Calcium-Rich Foods

Although some kidney stones have “calcium” in their name, if you get enough of this vital mineral from food it can actually decrease your risk.

 “It may seem counterintuitive, but a low calcium diet can actually increase absorption of oxalate in the intestines, sending more [oxalate] to the kidneys to excrete,” says Jirik, who recommends aiming for the normal recommended daily intake of calcium.

One way to get the calcium you need — the daily value is 1,000 milligrams (mg) for adults ages 19 to 50, and 1,200 mg for women over 50 and men over 70 — is by eating or drinking two to three servings of dairy per day, ideally alongside any foods that contain oxalate. One dairy serving is equivalent to:


  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 oz of cheese
  • ¾ cup of yogurt
  • 1 cup of kefir
You can also get calcium from kale, soy, and fortified cereals and breads.

 For added calcium, your provider may recommend taking calcium citrate supplements.

 But taking calcium supplements can increase the risk of kidney stones, so be sure to ask your provider before starting anything new.

4. Avoid Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment

When you take antibiotics for too long, they can leave you vulnerable to kidney stones, says Jirik. For example, the research review mentioned earlier also found that taking ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cipro XR, Proquin XR) increased the chances of kidney stones in people with IBD.

 “Antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria, but can kill useful bacteria such as Oxalobacter formigenes, whose main job is to break down oxalate in the intestines and reduce its absorption,” says Jirik.

While you can’t always control how often or for how long you’ll need antibiotics, research suggests that seeing doctors who stick to prescription guidelines, staying up-to-date on vaccinations, and taking specific probiotic strains recommended by your provider when you’re on such medications may help.

5. Stick Closely to Your Crohn’s Treatment Plan

Another excellent way to prevent kidney stones with Crohn’s disease is to collaborate with your healthcare team to hone your treatment plan, says Jirik. “Work closely with your GI provider to optimize your medical regimen for Crohn’s disease to reduce the inflammation in your GI tract.” Less inflammation means better absorption and hydration, plus less diarrhea, which can all lower your risk of kidney stones, says Jirik.

The Takeaway

  • Crohn’s comes with an increased risk of kidney stones, but you can reduce it by making dietary changes and finding an effective Crohn’s treatment plan.
  • The increased risk of kidney stones is tied to dehydration from diarrhea, poor nutrient absorption due to inflammation and surgery, and the use of certain medications.
  • To lower your risk of kidney stones with Crohn’s disease, stay hydrated, avoid long-term steroid and antibiotic use if possible, and eat a diet rich in calcium and low in oxalate.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Ira Daniel Breite, MD

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Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patients and helps run an ambulatory surgery center.

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