1 SUGARY DRINK A DAY INCREASES KIDNEY STONE RISK BY 23%

Patients with kidney stones are often instructed to drink more fluids to prevent the condition from recurring; however, new research published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found drinking just one sugar-sweetened soft drink a day increased the risk of kidney stone formation by 23% compared to people who had a maximum of one per week.

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital conducted a study to determine which fluids are detrimental or beneficial to one's risk of developing kidney stones. They found that certain drinks are more effective than others in preventing the recurrence of kidney stones. They found consumption of sugar-sweetened soda and punch is associated with a higher risk of stone formation, whereas consumption of coffee, tea, beer, wine, and orange juice is associated with a lower risk."

"Our study found that the relation between fluid intake and kidney stones may be dependent on the type of beverage consumed. We found that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks was associated with a higher incidence of kidney stones," said senior author Gary Curhan, M.D., ScD, Channing Division of Network Medicine at BWH.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from three ongoing cohorts—the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), and both the Nurses' Health Study I (NHS I) and II (NHS II). A total of 194,095 people were involved in the analysis over an average follow-up of more than eight years. All of the participants had to complete questionnaires concerning their medical history, lifestyle, and medication. Every four years questions on diet were updates.

Results of the analysis revealed that people who drank just one sugar-sweetened cola per day were at a 23% increased risk of kidney stone formation compared to people who had a maximum of one per week.

A study presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting revealed that calcium and vitamin D supplements are linked to high levels of calcium in the blood which can significantly raise the risk of developing kidney stones. In 2012, a study published in the journal European Urology found obese or diabetic patients have an increased risk for kidney stones.