A recent study published in Frontiers in Nutrition has shed light on a potential new risk factor for kidney stones – increased consumption of added sugars. According to the new study, diets high in added sugar are linked to kidney stones.The study, conducted by researchers at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College in China, suggests that limiting added sugar intake could help prevent the formation of kidney stones.Kidney stones, a painful and distressing condition, affect a significant portion of the global population, including about 12% of people in India.Kidney stones, which can cause severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and other complications, impact millions of individuals around the world. They can lead to infections, swelling of the kidneys, renal insufficiency, and even end-stage renal disease, significantly affecting the quality of life. Known risk factors for kidney stones include obesity, chronic diarrhoea, dehydration, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and gout.The study analysed data from 28,303 adult participants collected between 2007 and 2018 as part of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The researchers examined the association between added sugar consumption and the prevalence of kidney stones. Added sugars are commonly found in processed foods, especially in sugar-sweetened beverages, candies, desserts, and other sugary treats.Dr Shan Yin, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China, highlighted the significance of their findings, saying, “Ours is the first study to report an association between added sugar consumption and kidney stones. It suggests that limiting added sugar intake may help to prevent the formation of kidney stones.”Each participants daily intake of added sugars was estimated based on their recall of recent food and drink consumption. The study adjusted for various factors such as age, gender, race, income, body mass index (BMI), and dietary habits. The results showed a consistent correlation between the percentage of energy intake from added sugars and the likelihood of developing kidney stones.People with higher intake of added sugars significantly more likely to get kidney stonesParticipants with higher intake of added sugars, particularly those in the top 25% of the population, had 39% greater odds of developing kidney stones. Similarly, people who relied on added sugars for more than 25% of their energy consumption had 88% higher odds of developing kidney stones than those who derived less than 5% of their total energy from added sugars.The study also highlighted that people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Native American or Asian people, and those with higher poverty-income ratios (PIR) were more susceptible to the impact of added sugars on kidney stone risk.While the exact mechanisms behind this association remain unknown, the study underscores the importance of considering added sugars as a potential risk factor for kidney stones.Dr Yin emphasised the need for additional investigations, saying, “Further studies are needed to explore the association between added sugar and various diseases or pathological conditions in detail. For example, what types of kidney stones are most associated with added sugar intake How much should we reduce our consumption of added sugars to lower the risk of kidney stone formation Nevertheless, our findings already offer valuable insights for decision-makers.”
