An unknown risk factor for developing kidney stones and what should you do to prevent it.
New research findings indicate that excessive consumption of processed sugars might be a contributing factor to the development of kidney stones.
In North America, Europe, and Asia, 7-15%, 5-9%, and 1-5% of the population, respectively, grapple with kidney stones. These aren’t just painful inconveniences; they can potentially result in complications like infections, kidney swelling (hydronephrosis), renal failure, and even advanced kidney disease.
Adult men, those who are obese, and individuals with chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or gout are known to be more susceptible to kidney stones. Now, new research in Frontiers in Nutrition has added high consumption of added sugars to this list of risk factors.
Added sugars are common in processed foods, particularly in items like soft drinks, candies, and baked goods.
Dr. Shan Yin, the study’s leading author from the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College in China, emphasizes that this research is the first of its kind to identify a connection between added sugar intake and kidney stones.
“It suggests that limiting added sugar intake may help to prevent the formation of kidney stones,” according to Yin.
Is Your Sugar Intake Putting You at Risk?
To find out, the research team analyzed data from 28,303 adult participants, gathered from 2007 to 2018 in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Participants reported their history of kidney stones and their daily intake of added sugars, such as syrups, honey, or pure sugar. Information was collected through face-to-face and telephone interviews.
Participants were also assessed using the healthy eating index score (HEI-2015), reflecting the quality of their diet, including their consumption of beneficial and potentially harmful foods.
The analysis took into account various factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, income, BMI, HEI-2015 score, smoking status, and history of diabetes.
Those who consumed more added sugar at the start of the study generally had a higher prevalence of kidney stones, lower education level, and a lower HEI score.
How Much Added Sugar is Too Much?
On average, participants consumed 272.1 calories from added sugars daily, comprising 13.2% of their total energy intake.
After adjusting for different variables, the team found a consistent positive correlation between added sugars and kidney stones. Participants in the top 25% for added sugar intake had a 39% higher likelihood of developing kidney stones during the study.
If more than 25% of total energy came from added sugars, the odds were 88% higher than those consuming less than 5%.
Furthermore, certain ethnicities, such as Native American or Asian individuals, seemed to have higher risks when consuming above-average amounts of added sugars.
Those with a greater Poverty-Income Ratio (PIR) also showed higher susceptibility when exposed to more added sugars.
Need for Further Exploration
The study’s observational nature means that unknown confounding factors may influence the relationship between added sugars and kidney stone risk.
More detailed studies are necessary to understand how different types of kidney stones related to added sugar intake and to quantify the necessary reduction in consumption.
However, Dr. Yin concludes that these findings are a significant contribution and can provide valuable insights for those involved in health-related decision-making.
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