Added sugar may increase the risk of kidney stones, study suggests


In line with researchers, consuming meals with added sugars, reminiscent of smooth drinks, ice cream, and desserts, might elevate the prospect of kidney stones by 40%. The examine which is printed in Frontiers in Diet evaluated epidemiological information from the US Nationwide Well being and Diet Examination Survey (NHANES), which coated 28,303 grownup ladies and men from 2007 to 2018.

Lead writer, Dr. Shan Yin stated:

“Ours is the primary examine to report an affiliation between added sugar consumption and kidney stones. It means that limiting added sugar consumption might assist to forestall the formation of kidney stones.”

The findings suggest that proscribing added sugar consumption might help in stopping kidney stone improvement.


How was the examine performed?

Foods with added sugar must be consumed in moderation. (Image via Unsplash/ Afif Ramdhasuma)
Meals with added sugar should be consumed sparsely. (Picture by way of Unsplash/ Afif Ramdhasuma)

The every day consumption of added sugars for every participant was calculated based mostly on their recall of the meals and drinks that they had most not too long ago consumed.

The possibilities of getting kidney stones had been adjusted by the researchers annually all through the experiment for quite a few explanatory variables. Gender, age, race or ethnicity, relative revenue, BMI, HEI-2015 rating, smoking standing, and historical past of diabetes had been a few of these variables.

The variety of energy from added sugars was persistently and positively related with kidney stone improvement, based on the analysis, even when these elements had been taken into consideration.


Relation between kidney stones and added sugar

Kidney stone may cause symptoms like stomach ache, nausea, etc. (Image via Pexels/ Andrea Piacquadio)
Kidney stone might trigger signs like abdomen ache, nausea, and so on. (Picture by way of Pexels/ Andrea Piacquadio)

In North America, 7% to fifteen% of the inhabitants, 5% to 9% of the inhabitants in Europe, and 1% to five% of the inhabitants in Asia are affected by kidney stones. Extreme ache, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and bloody urine are a number of the extra typical signs.

Using added sugar is thought to be related to a better danger of kidney stone improvement. Onerous mineral and salt deposits often called kidney stones can develop within the kidneys and trigger excruciating sensations as they transfer via the urinary canal.

1) Elevated Urinary Calcium Excretion

Excessive consumption of added sugars, significantly fructose, may cause a rise within the quantity of calcium that’s excreted within the urine. Elevated calcium ranges within the urine can encourage kidney stone improvement.

2) Manufacturing of Oxalate

Some extra sugars can encourage the liver to create extra oxalate, a chemical that may bind with calcium within the kidneys and lead to kidney stone improvement.

It is advised to reduce added sugar intake. (Image via Unsplash/ Wan Salahuddin Wan Ismail)
It’s suggested to cut back added sugar consumption. (Picture by way of Unsplash/ Wan Salahuddin Wan Ismail)

3) Acidification of Urine

Drinks with added sugar and high-sugar diets may cause the urine to change into acidic. Urinary acidity can improve the probability that uric acid and cystine stones will develop.


The processes underlying the affiliation between elevated added sugar consumption and a better danger of kidney stone improvement are usually not but understood. The chance that unidentified confounding elements could also be chargeable for this affiliation can’t but be dominated out as a result of this was an uncontrolled observational trial.

Dr. Yin cautioned:

“Additional research are wanted to discover the affiliation between added sugar and numerous ailments or pathological situations intimately.”

Lowering added sugar consumption will not be a foul concept, although the examine didn’t conclusively present that added sugar causes kidney stones per se. This may increasingly additionally assist cut back dangers for heart problems, cognitive issues, diabetes, weight problems, and a number of other malignancies.