Silica and calcium carbonate are very rare constituents of renal calculi, historically associated with chronic ingestion of magnesium trisilicate. We present a case of silica and calcium carbonate first-time nephrolithiasis in a 47-year-old man taking multiple over-the-counter vitamins and supplements that contained silica and calcium carbonate as excipients, while also fasting during Ramadan. The patient was counseled to discontinue all supplements containing silicon dioxide with no recurrence since. This case emphasizes the importance of stone analysis, the need for heightened scrutiny in supplement use, and the significance of considering patients’ cultural and religious practices that can influence their health.
Moore et al. (Sun,) studied this question.