Magnesium deficiency plays role in kidney stones.

Several nutrient deficiencies can lead to problems with kidney stones and gall stones. Vitamin B-6 helps reduce the production and excretion of oxalates. These compounds combine with calcium to form some types of kidney stones. Therefore, it is wise to make sure you have an adequate intake of B-6.

Vitamin K can aid in the production of urinary protein involved in kidney function that inhibits the formation of these types of kidney stones. Magnesium works in a similar fashion. Magnesium increases solubility of calcium oxalate and inhibits high levels of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate culprits in stone formation. So, please have your magnesium levels checked and know that a co-factor in magnesium absorption is calcium so they should be taken together in at least a 1:1 ratio.  A 1997 study in the Jnl of Urology reported a double-blind study of 64 patients with calcium oxalate kidney stones and found that only 12.9 percent formed kidney stones with the magnesium supplement, but 63.6 percent using the placebo formed stones.*

*Kidney Stones. In the Vitamin Update. http://www.vitaminupdate.com/health-problems-detail.cfm/id/22.html

NOTE: A good magnesium/calcium 1:1 supplement: http://www.foreveryoungcooperative.com  (look under bone health)