Mixed Causes Of Calcium Stones
Often, the cause of calcium stones is not known and is referred to as idiopathic nephrolithiasis. Research suggests that nearly all stones result from problems in the breakdown and absorption of calcium and oxalate. Genetic factors may play a role in about one-half of these cases. Many medical conditions and drugs can also affect digestion and intestinal absorption.
Excess Calcium in the Urine
Hypercalciuria is a condition in which there is too much calcium in the urine. It is responsible for as many as 70% of calcium-containing stones. A number of conditions may produce hypercalciuria. Many are due to genetic factors, but most cases are due to unknown causes .
The following can lead to hypercalciuria and calcium stones:
- Too much calcium absorbed by the intestines. This is usually caused by genetic factors.
- High intake of calcium, often in the form of supplements taken beyond recommended levels.
- Renal calcium leak. In this condition, the kidney does not regulate minerals normally, causing an increase of calcium in the urine.
- Increase in levels of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D or in the activity of the vitamin D receptor.
- Excessive sodium. High urinary levels of sodium result in increased levels of calcium. Certain defects in the kidney tubules transport system cause imbalances in sodium and phosphate, which can lead to high calcium levels in the urine. A high-salt diet can also produce this effect.
- High intake of refined carbohydrates.
- Excessive caffeine or alcohol intake.
History Of Energy Drinks
If you do not include coffee, , Coca-Cola or Coke might have been the first modern energy/stimulant drink. And thats not just due to the caffeine content, but also because it contained cocaine as an ingredient. It was finally removed in 1903.
Today, energy drinks are ubiquitous and sales have surged. It only takes a quick visit to the neighborhood gas station to figure out how popular they are. Their use has dramatically increased across most age groups. Which, obviously raises questions about these energy drinks health effects.
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Risk Of Kidney Stones
Beyond medical diseases of the kidney, there are still special situations where intake of coffee might need to be moderated. One such scenario is people who form kidney stones.
Oxalate stones are one of the commonest varieties of kidney stones, and it just so happens that one of the main sources of oxalate in our diet is regular coffee .
Therefore, patients with kidney stones, especially those with calcium oxalate stones, should still regard coffee as a possible risk factor.
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Coffee Consumption And Kidney Disease: What Research Says
For a while, coffee was considered potentially dangerous to the kidneys however, the relationship may be more complex than originally thought. There have been numerous studies on the correlation between coffee consumption and kidney disease. Population-based epidemiological studies tend to show a link between coffee consumption and possibly a protective effect on kidney function.
For instance, a study from Korea involving over 2,600 women revealed that coffee consumption was associated with a decreased risk of kidney disease, including in diabetic women. However, population-based surveys arent enough to make hard conclusions. So, given the possibly controversial and pertinent nature of the topic, a meta-analysis published in 2016 attempted to answer this same question.
This meta-analysis revealed that theres no link between coffee consumption and increased risk of kidney disease in male patients. Interestingly, however, the study noted the possibility of a reduced risk of kidney disease in women who drink coffee. Based on these data, the conclusion regarding coffee could be harmless on male kidneys, and possibly beneficial for womens kidneys.
Can Drinking Too Much Caffeine Affect Your Kidneys
Caffeine may be the most common drug in the human food supply. That mug of breakfast coffee, the cup of tea in the afternoon and the energy drink or cola on a hot day all contain caffeine. You may think of caffeine as a mild stimulant and use it for that purpose, but caffeine affects the whole body, including your kidneys.
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New Study Supports Coffee And Caffeine Can Reduce Kidney Stones Risk
A new study using genetic data of hundreds of thousands of people suggests that daily coffee and caffeine consumption can prevent kidney stones.
Coffee and Caffeine Consumption and Risk of Kidney Stones: A Mendelian Randomized Study was published in the National Kidney Foundations American Journal of Kidney Diseases .
Our findings show that going from, for example, one cup a day to 1.5 cups per day, reduces the risk of kidney stones by 40 percent, said co-author of the study, Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. Our findings strongly suggest that regular coffee consumption reduces the risk of kidney stone formation.
The investigators used data from a total of 571,657 participants with kidney stones from two studies, including 395,044 participants of the U.K. Biobank study and 176,613 participants of another study known as the FinnGen study.
The elegant design of this study, which takes advantage of genetic variants associated with higher coffee and caffeine consumption, strengthens the evidence that coffee and caffeine can prevent kidney stones, said Kerry Willis PhD, NKF Chief Scientific Officer. Given the increasing prevalence of kidney stones in the United States and the associated morbidity, it would be great if this turns out to be a new prevention strategy that is both accessible and affordable.
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How Much Caffeine Per Day Is Safe
Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day appears safe for most healthy adults. Over 500 milligrams of caffeine per day can result in anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, and rapid heart rate.
Interestingly enough, there has been a U-shaped risk curve with caffeine and hypertension. Those who drank less than one cup of coffee per week or more than three cups of coffee per day were found to have lower risk for developing hypertension.
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What About Black Tea And Kidneys
In my kidney stone definition earlier, I mentioned that stones are caused by substances that crystallize in the kidneys. One of those crystal-forming substances is oxalate.
Well, black tea has a higher oxalate content than many other beverages. Drinking it leads to more oxalates in the urine, and it can promote stone formation if you consume too much .
One particularly memorable case of this occurred in 2014, when a man developed renal failure because he was drinking a gallon of black tea daily, which led to a heavy load of oxalates . Turns out there can be too much of a good thing!
A Study On Coffee And Kidney Stones
A press release from the National Kidney Foundation reveals that the American Journal of Kidney Diseases published an important new study last week.
The study analyzed genetic data from nearly 572,000 participants from the U.K. and Finland and was led by Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, from the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, and Shuai Yuan, BMed, MMedSc, of Swedens Uppsala University.
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Investigations Of Mechanisms Underlying The Preventive Effects Of Caffeine In Kidney Stone Disease
It is surprising that, to our knowledge, there was no previous in vitro or in vivo study that examined the effects of caffeine on kidney stone formation until 2016, when in vitro evidence of the protective effects of caffeine on CaOx kidney stone formation was reported . In that study, caffeine was shown to reduce CaOx crystal adhesion on the apical surface of renal tubular epithelial cells by translocation of a CaOx crystal-binding protein, annexin A1, from apical membranes to cytoplasm . This is the only direct evidence that shows cellular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of caffeine against kidney stone disease and strengthens its role as an inhibitor, rather than a promoter, of CaOx kidney stone formation.
Is Aspirin Safe For Regular Use
When taken as directed, regular use of aspirin does not seem to increase the risk of kidney disease in people who have normal kidney function. However, taking doses that are too large may temporarily- and possibly permanently- reduce kidney function. In people with kidney disease, aspirin may increase the tendency to bleed. People who already have reduced kidney function, or other health problems such as liver disease or severe heart failure, should not use aspirin without speaking to their doctor.
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Coffee Consumption May Be Potentially Harmful To Patients With Incident Ckd
He WJ, et al. CJASN. 2021 doi:10.2215/CJN.12420921.
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A recent study identified 20 metabolites that correlated with self-reported coffee consumption, three of which were also associated with incident chronic kidney disease.
The research, published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, suggests these metabolites could represent pathophysiologic processes relevant to preventing kidney disease through diet modification.
Moderate coffee consumption has been associated with lower risk of incident kidney disease. However, given the complex chemical composition of coffee, the biological mechanisms linking coffee to kidney disease are unclear,William J. He, from Johns Hopkins University, and colleagues wrote. We aimed to use metabolomics to find metabolites which may reflect coffee consumption and to explore the prospective association between these coffee-associated metabolites and incident CKD.
Casey M. Rebholz
In a meta-analysis of two independent study populations, He and colleagues investigated coffee-associated metabolites. Researchers distinguished coffee-associated metabolites among 372 serum metabolites available in two sub-samples of the ARIC study .
Reference:
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Drinking Too Much Coffee Could Lead To This Serious Side Effect New Study Says
Consistently relying on coffee to keep your energy up could have an unexpected side effect: It may be tough on your kidneys, according to a new study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Researchers looked at 372 blood metabolites in about 3,800 participants of a health study that collected information on lifestyle habits that could affect heart failure risk. Metabolites are produced when the body breaks down food, medications, and even its own tissue like muscles or fat. Examining which metabolites are in the blood can give researchers a glimpse of how they create individual differences in terms of issues like organ function.
In the study, they found 41 metabolites associated with coffee consumption, and higher levels of three of those were linked to a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Does that mean you should cut out coffee altogether? Not necessarily, unless you have existing kidney issues, the researchers suggest.
They note that consuming a moderate amount of coffee has been shown in previous studies to be beneficial in some ways. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
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That doesn’t mean just getting caffeine, eithercoffee has unique properties as a beverage, according to Andrea Dunn, RD, a dietitian in the department of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Cleveland Clinic.
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Which Tea Is Good And Which Is Bad
Tea is safe to consume when you know the correct quantity and type. Moreover, it is better to maintain some precautions if you have kidney problems. Some of the examples of tea types are as follows:
Green tea is one of the most beneficial types of tea for living a healthy life. It contains sodium of 2 mg, caffeine of 30 Mg , and no potassium. Furthermore, it supports weight loss and has anti-inflammatory properties. It is an excellent choice for kidney patients as it is an effective antioxidant also.
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Black tea is suitable for daily consumption with around 50 Mg of caffeine content. The amount of potassium is also very low in this type of tea. However, since it is high in oxalates, it is better to maintain a limit, especially if you have the risk of kidney stone formation. To reduce the effects of oxalate, you can add some milk to the black tea. It is better to intake hot tea more in case of kidney problems as iced tea contains more oxalate.
There are always other options to try out. Look for teas that good for your kidney and liver health.
What Kind Of Tea Is Good For The Kidneys
Unsweetened green tea Green tea has been studied almost as much as coffee. A cup of green tea is packed with compounds called polyphenols, which function as antioxidants.
Is tea hard on the kidneys?
The caffeine found in coffee, tea, sodas, and foods can also put pressure on your kidneys. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause increased blood flow, blood pressure, and stress on the kidneys. Excess caffeine consumption has also been linked to kidney stones.
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High Caffeine And Kidneys: Lets Explore Some Popular Drinks
Unfortunately, the effect of caffeine on the kidneys isnt great. Caffeine consumption is a risk factor for kidney disease, and can cause scarring of the glomeruli that is, the vessels in the kidneys that filter blood .
Caffeine may also lead to kidney stones, and it increases strain on the kidneys . However, some caffeinated beverages, like coffee, may be safe in small amounts due to certain plant constituents .
One review found that the data is inconclusive regarding caffeine and kidney stone risk however, the researchers pointed out that coffee and decaffeinated coffee,but not other caffeinated beverages, actually had a protective effect on the kidneys .
The bottom line, though, is that you probably shouldnt overdo it when it comes to caffeine. Lets look at some classically high caffeine drinks: black tea and coffee:
Caffeine As A Diuretic
Caffeine, which belongs to a class of substances called methylxanthines, is a mild diuretic. Theophylline, another drug in this class, was actually used as a diuretic until more potent diuretics were developed. Both of these drugs act on the kidneys by preventing absorption of water. Research reported by R.J. Maughan and J. Griffin in the December 2003 “Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics” noted that people who had not had any caffeine for a few days had increased urinary output after drinking the amount of caffeine equivalent to two to three cups of coffee.
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Is Yerba Mate Tea Good Or Bad For Kidneys
Yerba mate is an herbal tea native to South America with a smooth, woody flavor. Its high in antioxidants and nutrients. We bring it up here because it has a caffeine content comparable to coffee, making it a popular coffee alternative for waking you up in the morning.
Despite yerba mates benefits, there is little research on its relationship to kidney health. It does contain oxalic acid, an oxalate, so it should be avoided in excess when experiencing kidney conditions .
I have come across information that yerba mate may have properties which can help dissolve kidney stones. However, I have yet to verify this information with any reliable sources . At this time, Id recommend speaking to your physician and moderating your consumption of yerba mate if kidney health is a concern for you.
What we do know is that the antioxidants in yerba mate really make an impact in how the body responds to the high caffeine – in a good way. A much healthier way to get your high caffeine kick. To learn more about yerba mate and its benefits, check out our spotlight post!
Coffee, Black Tea and the Kidneys: The Conclusion:
For those who like cups and cups a day of coffee or black tea, the caffeine and oxalates should make you pause for thought if you care about your kidneys. BUT all is not lost, read on for…
How Much Black Tea Is Safe
Of course, having a cup of black tea every so often is perfectly safe for most people. Even though black tea contains higher oxalate levels than most teas, its generally not enough to worry about.
One study looked at the amount of oxalates in black tea and found quite low levels. They concluded that drinking 4 cups of black tea would not pose a risk to kidney stones, and for kidney stone patients they recommended not to consume anything with more than 10 mg of oxalate, which is just over two 8oz mugs according to this study .
Whether you can consume black tea with a kidney condition depends on how severe your condition is, how much youre consuming, and your doctors instructions. While most people can drink reasonable amounts of black tea with no problem, be sure to check with your healthcare professional first if you have issues with kidney health.
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The Amount Of Coffee You Drink
First thing to consider is the nutritional content of coffee. An 8 oz. cup of black coffee has 116 mg of potassium3. This is considered a low potassium food. However, many people drink more than one cup of coffee each day. Three to four cups of coffee a day is considered high in potassium and could raise your potassium levels. Adding creamers or milk can further raise your coffees potassium content. Drinking less than three cups of coffee/day is generally considered safe. Phosphorus, sodium, calories, carbohydrates and protein are minimal in black coffee and not of nutritional consideration.
Assessment Of Coffee Tea And Caffeine
The exposures of interest were baseline consumption of coffee , tea, and total caffeine intake. Trained dietitians collected participant information about dietary intake through face-to-face interviews using a Spanish version of the validated 143-item SFFQ. Participants reported their average frequency of consumption over the preceding year for a specified serving size of each item. The nine possible answers ranged from never or less than once per month to six or more per day, which were transformed into grams or milliliters per day using the standard portion size of each food and beverage. Two and one items on the FFQ were specifically related to coffee consumption and tea consumption, respectively. The standard serving size of 1 cup of coffee or tea was assigned as 50 mL in the questionnaire. Total coffee consumption was considered as the sum of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. Spanish food composition tables were used to estimate daily energy and nutrient intakes.
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