[theholisticgoat]

In its article on UC, Merck makes the following claim:

“Chloride salts, such as calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and ammonium chloride, can attach to the matrix binding sites and prevent formation of a nucleus.”

I wanted to confirm this because calcium chloride is table salt and that would be an accessible option to add for UC prevention.

Instead, I found this study which seems to indicate the opposite. However, without access to the full article, it’s not clear if they identified the type of UC they were looking at, so I suppose it’s possible still–though unlikely from what I can see–that there’s some form of UC sodium chloride can prevent.

This is important to look at though, because it underscores a point I often try to make: verify all sources, even the authoritative ones.

Efficacy of Various Chlorides and Calcium Carbonate in the Prevention of Urinary Calculi

<b scrollto-destination=”107138548″ style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Summary

Wether lambs averaging 29 kg. were used in nine treatment groups of 21 to 25 lambs each and fed a known calculogenic basal ration to which either ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium chloride or calcium carbonate was added. Each compound was fed as 0.5 and 1.5% of the diet.

Feeding either 1.5% ammonium chloride or calcium chloride resulted in a significant reduction in urolithiasis. The incidence was 4, 4, 33 and 24%, respectively, when ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium chloride and calcium carbonate were fed at the 1.5% level, and 42, 46, 38 and 44%, respectively, when fed at the 0.5% level. The controls had a 50% incidence of calculi.

<b scrollto-destination=”107138548″ style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>

Feeding ammonium chloride or calcium chloride at the 1.5% level also significantly lowered urine pH and significantly increased urinary calcium excretion. None of the compounds had a detrimental effect upon feed consumption, rate of gain or carcass grade when fed at either level.

https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/26/5/1199/4698035

(Merck: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/urinary-system/noninfectious-diseases-of-the-urinary-system-in-large-animals/urolithiasis-in-ruminants)

academic.oup.com

Efficacy of Various Chlorides and Calcium Carbonate in the Prevention of Urinary Calculi

Summary. Wether lambs averaging 29 kg. were used in nine treatment groups of 21 to 25 lambs each and fed a known calculogenic basal ration to which either ammon