Kidney stones due to sugary soft drinks

Creation of kidney stones could be favored by sugary soft drinks

08/14/2013

The formation of kidney stones can have many causes. Above all, the increasing consumption of meat is associated with the increasing number of affected patients, which has tripled in the past ten years, according to information from the German Society of Urology (DGU). A US long-term study came now another cause of kidney stones on the track: sugar is called the culprit. Accordingly, although drinking plenty to prevent kidney stones is correct, but should be dispensed with sugary soft drinks such as lemonade or coke.

Drink a lot to prevent kidney stones - but no sugary soft drinks
Kidney stones or bladder stones are deposits that occur in the area of ​​the kidney ducts or urinary tract. The causes of the formation of kidney stones have not yet been conclusively clarified. Basically, numerous metabolic processes are involved, which lead to an increase in the concentration of poorly soluble ions or other urinary components. When it comes to exceeding the so-called solubility product, the substances precipitate and form conglomerates. Depending on the size, these can then block the kidney ducts and urinary tract, damaging the urine in the kidney. Such renal colic is accompanied by seizure-like, very severe pain and can cause lasting damage to the kidney. Sweats, nausea and vomiting, chills and fever usually occur as well. In addition, blood is visible in the urine or detectable in the laboratory. Those affected also have an increased urinary frequency. Stones less than five millimeters are likely to go 80 percent with urine alone. From seven millimeters, most medical intervention is required.

To prevent kidney stones, urologists recommend drinking 2.5 to 3 liters of fluid daily. Because this will flush the kidneys and ureter well. But it depends on the type of fluid, as US researchers recently demonstrated. Accordingly, sugary soft drinks should even favor the formation of kidney stones.

The cause of kidney stones usually lies in eating habits and living conditions
„The number of new cases has tripled in the last ten years. Today almost every 20th German citizen is affected once or several times in life, "reports the German Society for Urology (DGU) on its website. „About 1.2 million patients need to be treated annually for this condition.“ As causes many factors come into question. „The reasons lie in changed living conditions, modern eating habits, but also improved basic medical care“"explains Professor Dr. Thomas Knoll, Chief Physician of the Urological Clinic Sindelfingen and Chairman of the working group „In addition to meat, salty foods, alcohol and physical inactivity are also beneficial for kidney stones Vegetarians have a significantly lower risk of unpleasant deposits Their stone incidence amounts to only 10 percent of the proportion in the normal population Stressed city dwellers have on average more kidney stones than people living in rural areas, and academics are more affected than physically active.

Researchers at Boston's Brigham and Woman's Hospital have recently discovered sugary soft drinks as a trigger for kidney stones. Like Dr. Pietro Manuel Ferraro and his team in the trade magazine „Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology“ The researchers analyzed the data from three studies involving 194,000 participants who were monitored over a period of eight years and had to provide information on their drinking habits. The result was clear: The study participants who drank at least one sugary cola daily had a 23 percent higher risk of kidney stone than the subjects who drank the sugary drink less frequently. For other sugary soft drinks („noncola sodas“) the risk was even 33 percent higher. In contrast, the researchers found a positive effect of coffee, tea, wine and beer. Accordingly, reduced the risk of kidney stones by 26 percent, tea by 11 percent, red wine by 31 percent, white wine by 33 percent and beer by 41 percent.

Diagnosis and therapy of kidney stones
Kidney stones can permanently damage the kidney. But as sufferers usually have severe pain, the therapy is usually timely. If there is a suspicion of kidney stones, excretory urography is often performed in which a contrast agent is administered to the patient. The urologist can then follow the excretion of the agent via the urinary tract via X-ray images and, if necessary, determine the position of the stones. If the kidney is already jammed, the extent of this examination can be seen. Another way to diagnose kidney stones is the retrograde ureteropyelogram (UPG), in which the urologist inserts an instrument through the urethra into the bladder, thereby introducing a contrast agent into the ureter.

If the kidney stones are not eliminated with the urine, there are several treatment options. Only one percent of cases require an open stone operation. In about 70 percent of the cases, the stones are broken with shock waves (extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy ESWL). 15 percent of those affected receive a combination of shock wave therapy and endoscopic surgery. In the latter, a thin canal is created either through the skin or through the urethra to the kidney, through which an instrument is inserted. With this, the stones can be smashed and finally removed.

For the prevention of kidney stones, the DGU advises above all to drink regularly regularly. This is also true at bedtime, so no at night „losing streak“ created. „Nocturnal urination should be normal for urinary stone patients, "states the company's current guidelines, with kidney, bladder, low-sodium mineral waters and diluted citrus juices suitable for hydration.

Ice tea can increase the risk of kidney stones
Who tends to the formation of kidney stones, should abstain from iced tea in the summer. The chairman of the professional association of German internists, Dr. med. Wolfgang Wesiack. Because black and green tea contains oxalic acid, which has been shown to favor the formation of certain kidney stones when the acid is added to the body in larger quantities. On the other hand, water is better than iced tea, to which fresh lemon slices or lemon juice are added. The acid of the lemon has a positive effect and prevents kidney stone growth, reports the internist. The physician advises those affected to avoid foods containing oxalic acid as much as possible. These include coffee, coke, wheat bran, rhubarb, spinach and nuts. Better are foods such as cottage cheese, cheese, milk, yogurt and potatoes that contain a lot of calcium. Studies have shown that calcium reduces acid absorption in the gut. Also from the excessive consumption of fat and table salt is to be advised, so Wesiack. Obesity and calcium deficiency could also increase the risk of kidney stones. (No)

Picture: Rainer Sturm