Added Sugar Consumption Increases Risk for Kidney Stones

MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Consuming added sugars is associated with an increased risk for kidney stones, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Shan Yin, M.D., from the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College in Nanchong, China, and colleagues examined the association between added sugar and kidney stones in a nationally representative study using datasets from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2007 to 2018. Individuals aged 20 years and older who reported a history of kidney stones and provided recall data on added sugars were included (28,303 adults).

The mean energy intake from added sugars was 272.10 kilocalories overall. The researchers found a positive association for the percentage of energy intake from added sugars with kidney stones in the fully adjusted multivariable model. Individuals in the fourth versus the first quartile of added sugar energy intake percentage had a 39 percent higher prevalence of kidney stones. The prevalence of kidney stones was 88 percent higher for those with ≥25 percent calories from added sugar compared with <5 percent.

"Further studies are needed to explore the association between added sugar and various diseases or pathological conditions in detail," Yin said in a statement. "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."

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