Nutrient shortages can increase your own body's production of oxalates

Nutrient shortages can increase endogenous (your own body's) production of oxalates, as opposed to getting from food.

Here's how nutrient shortages increase oxalate production in the body

  1. Glyoxylate – is an oxalate precursor. Its metabolism is tightly regulated to prevent oxalate accumulation. Inadequate levels of nutrients like B6 and magnesium (common) can impair the activity of enzymes involved in glyoxylate metabolism, leading to an accumulation of glyoxylate, which can be converted to oxalate

  2. Mitochondria – play a critical role in energy production and other metabolic (conversion) processes, including of oxalate precursors. Nutrient deficiencies and imbalances that disrupt mitochondrial function like deficiencies in magnesium, coQ10, or some B vitamins can impair mitochondrial metabolism and contribute to increased production of oxalate precursors like glyoxylate

  3. Impaired Detoxification – can compromise the body's ability to eliminate metabolic byproducts, including oxalates eg deficiencies in antioxidants like vit C or glutathione can impair the antioxidant defense system, leading to oxidative stress and damage to tissues. Oxidative stress can promote the conversion of oxalate precursors to oxalate

  4. Gut Microbiome – Nutrient deficiencies can influence the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in oxalate metabolism. Dysbiosis or bacterial, parastic, fungal or viral infections etc can affect the metabolism of dietary and endogenous oxalates, potentially leading to increased absorption and systemic burden

  5. Inflammation – caused by nutrient deficiencies can contribute to systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation, which may indirectly influence oxalate metabolism by altering metabolic pathways and enzyme activities involved in oxalate metabolism, potentially leading to increased endogenous production