<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Gladys, Thanks for the excuse to research oxalates today instead of grading organic chemistry quizzes. I had much more fun with this :) General facts about oxalate in the body: Oxalate is an organic compound (two carbon atoms each of which is bound to two oxygen atoms) that is found in many foods, and is also a byproduct of some metabolic processes. Oxalate is abundant in plant foods (fruits, vegetables, and grains). Proteins, including gluten, and carbohydrates are metabolized down to oxalates. Oxalates (existing in the blood as oxalic acid) are ordinarily filtered by the kidneys into the urine, and eliminated from the body. Oxalate is an anion that binds to calcium to form calcium oxalate. Oxalates are oxidants, and as such can cause oxidative damage to the body if they are not properly eliminated. Roughly 80% of the kidney stones in patients in the United States are made of calcium oxalate. A low-oxalate diet is often prescribed for people who have increased levels of oxalic acid in their urine or who have a history of forming kidney stones. A low oxalate diet is not always effective in reducing urinary oxalic acid levels. Researchers have discovered that consumption of only certain oxalate-containing foods is likely to significantly increase urinary oxalate. If the concentration of oxalates in the urine is too high, microscopic crystals can form in the bladder (some cases of “vulvodynia” have been described as a complication involving microscopic oxalate crystals that irritate the nerves in the urethra). Visit the Celiac Web Page at Http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/index.html Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC