What causes kidney stones and kidney stone symptoms?
It is a common occurrence to know someone close to us who has developed kidney stones and kidney stone symptoms. The cause of kidney stones and kidney stone symptoms depend on the type of stones being formed. Mayo Clinic states that “kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal forming substances in the fluid that your urine can dilute.” Anyone that has developed kidney stones should make an effort to strain all urine output to collect a stone so that the type of stone may be determined.
Kidney Stone Symptoms and Signs
If you have ever had kidney stones and kidney stone symptoms, you will not forget them. Kidney stones and kidney stone symptoms include an abrupt onset of severe sharp pain in the side of your low back or lower abdomen. You may experience constant pain, or it may come and go. You may need to urinate more often, develop bloody urine or cloudy urine may occur.
Types of Kidney Stones Causing Kidney Stone Symptoms
Calcium oxalate is the most common type of kidney stone. Calcium oxalate stones typically form with those who have an increased excretion of urinary calcium. Calcium oxalate stones are not dependent on urine acidity. Uric acid stones are known to form in an acidic urine pH and calcium phosphate stones tend to form in those with a more alkaline urine.
New Research Reveals More Data to Help Prevent Kidney Stones and Kidney Stone Symptoms
New research by Prochaska, ML et al evaluated participants from the nurses health studies, NHS I and NHS II between the dates of 1976 and 2016. Researchers collected 24 hour urine from kidney stone formers in these studies.
Calcium Intake and Kidney stones
Healthcare providers previously advised kidney stone patients to reduce calcium in their diet. New findings by Prochaska, ML et al determined that participants with a higher intake of dietary calcium had a lower risk of kidney stones. It did not matter whether the dietary calcium was coming from vegetables or dairy products. Calcium from supplements was associated with a 20% higher chance of forming kidney stones in older women but not younger women. A low calcium diet appeared to have a higher risk of kidney stone formation.
Prochaska, ML et al reinforced these factors which lower the risk of kidney stone formation and may provide an avenue for prevention of kidney stones:
- Adequate consumption of nondairy and dairy dietary calcium
- Consume enough dietary potassium
- Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee as well as caffeine was associated with lower risk of kidney stones.
- DASH diet which contains low-fat dairy, higher amounts of vegetables and fruits, as well as low in red meat and processed meat was found have a lower risk of kidney stones.
- The beverages tea, beer, wine, and orange juice were all associated with a lower risk of kidney stones.
- Participants in the nurses health studies who had larger amounts of urine volume had a lower risk of kidney stones.
- Those with higher urinary citrate in their urine had a lower risk of kidney stones.
“DASH diet which contains low-fat dairy, higher amounts of vegetables and fruits, as well as low in red meat and processed meat was found have a lower risk of kidney stones.”
Consider avoiding these factors which showed a higher risk of kidney stone formation as documented by Prochaska, ML et al:
- Taking calcium supplements was associated with a higher risk of stone formation.
- A higher intake of oxalate containing foods was associated with higher risk.
- There was a higher risk of kidney stones in those who consumed more sugar containing beverages including sucrose, fructose, soda sweetened with sugar, and punch.
- A higher body mass index was associated with higher risk of stone formation.
- The Nurses Health Studies showed diabetes mellitus type 2 and gallstones were associated with higher risk of kidney stones.
- Those who had higher concentrations of oxalate or calcium in the urine had a higher risk of kidney stone formation.
Common Beverages With Risk of Kidney Stones and Kidney Stone Symptoms
45,289 men without previous renal stones were followed in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (4) for formation of stones. Increasing intake of fluid reduced kidney stone formation. The study found that specific types of beverages were found to decrease risk of stone formation. For each 8 ounce serving daily of the following beverages consumed per day, stone formation risk decreased by the following amounts on average: coffee with or without caffeine, 10%; tea, 14%; beer, 21%; and wine, 39%. Also, for each 8 ounce serving of apple juice, stone formation risk increased by 35%, and grapefruit juice increased risk by 37%. A similar study design looked at kidney stone formation in women and found a 59% reduced risk of kidney stones with each 8-ounce serving of wine daily (5).