Staying well hydrated is an effective way to reduce your chances of forming kidney stones, according to new research presented at the National Kidney Foundation's 2015 Spring Clinical Meetings.
Wisit Cheungpasitporn, MD, of the Mayo Clinic - Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and his colleagues including Principal Investigator, John Lieske, MD, found that people who produced 2-2.5 liters of urine, reduced their risk of forming kidney stones by approximately 50% compared to those who produced less. This corresponds with drinking approximately eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Among participants who had previously experienced kidney stones, the risk reduction was even greater.
Drinking plenty of fluid keeps the urine less concentrated with waste products, and frequent urination allows less opportunity for stone-causing minerals to settle and bond in the kidneys and urinary tract.
Dr. Cheungpasitporn and his colleagues performed a meta-analysis of 273,954 patients from 9 different studies, 558 of whom had experienced kidney stones previously.
"Increased fluid intake had long been suggested as a simple strategy for preventing kidney stones. This large meta-analysis provides further support for this intervention to reduce the risk of kidney stones," said Dr. Cheungpasitporn.
Kidney stones affect approximately 1 in 10 people in the United States and these findings further suggest the impact lifestyle modifications may have on kidney stone prevention.
"This analysis shows that drinking water is an effective way to cut one's risk for developing kidney stones in half," said Kerry Willis, Chief Scientific Officer at the National Kidney Foundation. "Kidney stones cause significant discomfort and cost, along with a potential to contribute to the development of kidney disease, so confirmation of reducing risk through improved hydration is an important finding."
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the leading organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease for hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals, millions of patients and their families, and tens of millions of Americans at risk. For more information, visit www.kidney.org.