Kidney stone is a common problem that afflicts up to 15 percent of the population, and it can cause severe pain and other symptoms.
Kidney stones are hard masses that form within the kidney and may cause pain and blockage in the urinary tract. Kidney stones are small deposits of mineral salts that form inside the kidneys, ureters, or bladder. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. They usually do not cause any symptoms until they become too large to pass through the urinary tract. Symptoms include blood in urine, abdominal pain, fever and chills, vomiting, constipation, muscle weakness, rectal bleeding (blood in stool), loss of appetite or weight loss, dehydration (lack of water in body), swollen stomach area/abdomen (with or without pain).
Kidney stone disease can result from a variety of factors, including diet and lifestyle habits, dehydration, medical conditions, medications, or metabolic disorders.
The worldwide popularity of coffee as a beverage has made it the subject of intense study into its effects on health.
Since its discovery in Ethiopia, the effects of coffee on health have been debated for over a thousand years. The beverage has even been banned in certain parts of the world for health or religious reasons.
Coffee and Kidney Functions
Epidemiological studies of populations have shown a correlation between the consumption of coffee and possibly a beneficial effect on kidney function.
According to an article published in published in the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of kidney stones.
Investigators analyzed data from 571,657 people with kidney stones in two studies, including 395,044 participants of the U.K. Biobank study and 176,613 participants of another known as the FinnGen study.
While in Korea, there was as study in 2008 of 2,600 women found that coffee consumption was associated with a decreased risk of kidney disease, including in diabetic women. They found that women who consumed at least two cups of coffee per day had a lower risk for developing kidney disease than those who did not. The results were especially significant among diabetic women.
While the exact mechanisms behind this relationship are unclear, it is thought that coffee’s antioxidant properties may play a role in protecting against kidney damage.
The connection between coffee and caffeine, kidney stones, and other health issues is a complex one However, it’s important to note that this study does not prove cause-and-effect; it only shows an association between coffee consumption and kidney stone development. Further studies are needed to determine whether coffee decreases the risk of developing kidney stones or merely predicts risk factors for them (e.g., people with high blood pressure).
In order to understand this better, it’s important to consider the different types of kidney stones that exist. One type is calcium oxalate stones; these are the most common type of kidney stone in the United States. They are often found in people with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections; however, they can also be found in people who have never had an infection. Another type of stone is uric acid; these stones form when too much uric acid builds up in your system. They are generally found in people who have gout or high blood pressure or who eat foods high in purines (which includes red meat).
More research is needed to understand the connection between coffee kidney stones.
Desert Sky Urology provides kidney stone treatment in Chandler, Phoenix and Gilbert, AZ. Call us at 480-933-5557
