# Influence of Obesity on Endogenous Oxalate Synthesis

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $250,242

## Abstract

The prevalence of both obesity and kidney stones is increasing with calcium oxalate as the major component in
70 – 80% of stones. The amount of oxalate excreted in urine is a risk factor for the development of calcium
oxalate stones and several studies have identified that obese individuals excrete more oxalate than individuals
with normal BMI. The prevalence of both obesity and stone disease is high in both Alabama and Texas, indicating
that these states are ideally suited to identify whether they are inter-related. In this project we will assess 3
possible reasons for this greater excretion including an increased contribution of endogenous oxalate synthesis
to the urinary oxalate pool, enhanced net gastrointestinal oxalate absorption, and augmented renal oxalate
secretion. We will merge the skill sets and knowledge present on the UAB campus in the Center for research on
Obesity and Oxalate Kidney Stones (COOKS) with those in the UTSW Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical
Research (CMMCR) in order to address this hypothesis. This joint endeavor will facilitate subject recruitment
and enhance skill sets originating in urology, biochemistry, obesity, nutrition and physiology at UAB with those
in endocrinology, urology, GI Medicine/hepatology and nephrology at UTSW. We aim to identify factors
contributing to an increased urinary oxalate excretion in obese calcium oxalate stone formers. In Specific Aim 1
we will examine endogenous oxalate synthesis which will be the predominant source of urinary oxalate on a very
low oxalate diet. In Specific Aim 2, we will examine transport processes in the gut and kidney to identify the
contributions of gastrointestinal absorption and renal secretion of oxalate. Body fat content and its distribution
will also be measured to determine if it correlates with oxalate synthesis or transport. The successful completion
of these aims may identify therapeutic strategies that decrease urinary oxalate excretion and stone risk. The
amalgamation of expertise in these Centers should be a pathway for strong future collaborative research focused
on therapeutic interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167931
- **Project number:** 2P20DK119788-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** ROSS P HOLMES
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $250,242
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-21 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167931

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167931, Influence of Obesity on Endogenous Oxalate Synthesis (2P20DK119788-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167931. Licensed CC0.

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