The Cola Kidney Stone Connection

Soda is one of America's favorite drinks, but there is one repercussion of choosing cola over water that may make you think twice before taking another sip of cola. It's a well known fact that cola isn't a healthy drink, no one these days will claim it is. However, few people actually realize that soda presents more problems for the body than just weight gain and dental issues; cola has actually been linked to the development of kidney stones.

It is important to note at this point that the term cola is being used, and this is being done for a very specific reason. Cola, more than other sodas, contains a high level of phosphoric acid, and according to the journal Epidemiology (2007) this increases an individual's risk of developing kidney stones and other kidney problems. The results of the Saldana et al. study that made the claim notes that the study found that "Drinking 2 or more colas per day was associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease" (Saldana et al, 2007). Furthermore, the same report noted the connection between drinking cola and an increased risk for kidney stones (O'Connor, 2008).

Another study conducted by the Department of Urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York (1992) revealed that cola changed the concentration of urinary excretion, more specifically raising oxalate levels, which was found to contribute to kidney stone formation (331-333). While the study was conducted under conditions in which participants drank two quarts of cola a day for forty-eight hours, a condition which may not exactly be common practice for cola drinkers, it does note the important connection between kidney health and drinking cola. However, Healthbasis (2006) notes that "drinking one quart (less than three 12-ounce cans) of soda per week may increase a person's risk of developing stones by 15%. This is an alarming report, especially since the consumption range is much closer than that of the 48-hour study mentioned above.

Now we know the strong connection between cola and kidney stones, how about other sodas? Do they also put people at a higher risk for kidney stones? Surprisingly, the answer is no. This is because of the high level of phosphoric acid in cola, which isn't present in other sodas (O'Connor, 2008). However, this doesn't mean that other sodas are healthy options for refreshment. While a soda every now and then isn't going to do massive damage, people who drink sodas on a regular basis are putting themselves at risk for diabetes and other high sugar and weight related problems. According to a 1993 article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, drinking ample amounts of water significantly reduces ones risk for kidney stones (GlaxoSmithKline, 2008).

There are other dietary and lifestyle factors that contribute to kidney stones, such as high sodium intake, among other things, however, cutting cola out of one's diet is an easy way to reduce one's risk for kidney stones. With the increasing awareness of the risks of drinking cola, perhaps it's time Americans limit their intake, and work on improving their health through healthier drink options.

References:

GlaxoSmithKline. (2008). Kidney Stones. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://www.calciuminfo.com/calciumquestions/kidneystones.aspx

O'Connor, A. (2008). The Claim: Too Much Cola Can Cause Kidney Problems. Retrieved August 4, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/health/nutrition/22real.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

HealthBasis. (2006). Kidney Stones. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from http://www.healthbasis.com/in-depth%20reports/10/000081.htm

Other links of interest:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1557843

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10092157

http://epidem.com/pt/re/epidemiology/abstract.00001648-200707000-00017.htm;jsessionid=L2pXM621psKhvK62p66MH1hv1KT47QSJQjJJ2T1GtQNrkWvW0YpP!536197444!181195628!8091!-1