# Capsaicin in urine and kidney stones

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-in-urine-and-kidney-stones/728730>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 24, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-in-urine-and-kidney-stones/728730 "2015-08-24T15:18:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-in-urine-and-kidney-stones/728730/1 "2015-08-24T15:18:55Z")

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The thread on capsaicin in feces and urine indicates that capsaicin from food can be excreted in urine.

I go through periods in which I eat a lot of spicy foods. I have also been plagued with kidney stones. Is there any correlation between stones and spicy foods? Should I lay off the habaneros, or eat more to prevent stones from forming?

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**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\
**Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-in-urine-and-kidney-stones/728730/2 "2015-08-24T18:33:45Z")

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I doubt it. I’ve had kidney stones, and the urologist advised me about dietary risk factors, which include not drinking enough fluids, oxalates (which occur in some leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard), high consumption of colas (because of the phosphoric acid they contain) and a high protein diet. The doctor didn’t mention chiles or capsaicin, and I’ve never read about any correlation.