Claudia Tanner 8 months Thursday August 9th 2018
This image has been shared online hundreds of thousands of times – but experts warn it’s message is somewhat misleading (Photo: Facebook/Jason Hallman)
One version of the photo, which has been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook, claims that it “belonged to someone who overindulged in energy drinks” and tells other users, “Show this to folks that’s [sic] addicted”.
But experts say that while guzzling gallons of the stuff isn’t advisable, the viral post doesn’t paint an entirely accurate picture. i spoke to one urologist who warned that he’s seen a rise in young people suffering with the condition which he blames on increased consumption of protein drinks.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside your kidneys. They are quite common with around three in 20 men and up to two in 20 women developing them at some stage of their lives, according to the NHS. Stones can develop in one or both kidneys and most often affect people aged 30 to 60.
Small kidney stones may go undetected and be passed out painlessly in the urine. But it’s fairly common for a stone to block part of the urinary system which can cause severe pain in the abdomen or groin and sometimes causes a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Larger stones may need to be broken up using ultrasound or laser energy. Occasionally, keyhole surgery may be needed to remove very large kidney stones directly.
Is there a link between kidney stones and energy drinks?
Kidney stones are usually formed following a build-up of certain chemicals in the body, such as calcium, oxalate, uric acid and cysteine, according to the NHS. Most are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea and soda contain oxalate, hence the belief that they can cause the problem.
Spire consultant urologist Subu Subramonian confirmed that the case pictured did appear to be kidney stones. However, he said such a severe case is unlikely to be caused entirely by excessive consumption of energy drinks.
“The appearance suggests that the patient may have a congenital condition such as renal tubular acidosis which predispose them to multiple calcification in the meat and tubes of the kidney due to a fault in the filtration mechanism for calcium in the micro tubes of the kidney. This condition leads to recurrent and multiple stones in the kidney and patient may end up with some kidney dysfunction as well.”
He explained that kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, and that several factors increase risk. “Other contributing factors in play here could be inadequate water intake (as in most patients with kidney stones) and high consumption of animal protein and salt,” he said.
“Although energy drinks could be responsible for a number of health hazards such diabetes due to excessive sugar content, there is no direct evidence to link it with kidney stone disease. It has been shown that people with diabetes have more incidence of kidney stones and therefore there might be indirect link.”
Therefore, drinking a lot of energy drinks isn’t a good idea for their sugar content, but this alone is very unlikely to cause kidney stones. “Kidney stones tend to be calcium based, but it usually has no relationship with consuming calcium through diet and supplements,” added Mr Subramonian.
The risks of protein drinks
A diet rich in animal protein, because of its high purine content, which produces uric acid as it metabolises, may increase the risk of uric acid stone formation, experts say.
Mr Subramonian said: “As a stone specialist, I am more worried more about the recent trend in increased consumption of protein drinks amongst youngsters as I see a lot of these young people coming to my stone clinic with new onset kidney stones. This is a trend I am seeing more recently over the last 10 years as protein drinks are promoted by sports shops, advertisements and even some gym trainers.
“My advice to the public is to drink at least two litres of water a day and eat a healthy balanced diet to prevent kidney stones.”
5 steps for preventing kidney stones
The following advice appears from an expert on a Harvard Health Blog:
Drink plenty of water: Drinking extra water dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. Strive to drink enough fluids to pass 2 liters of urine a day, which is roughly eight standard 8-ounce cups. It may help to include some citrus beverages, like lemonade and orange juice. The citrate in these beverages helps block stone formation.
Get the calcium you need: Getting too little calcium in your diet can cause oxalate levels to rise and cause kidney stones. To prevent this, take in the amount of calcium appropriate to your age. Ideally, obtain calcium from foods, since some studies have linked taking calcium supplements to kidney stones. Men 50 and older should get 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day, along with 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D to help the body absorb the calcium.
Reduce sodium: A high-sodium diet can trigger kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine. So a low-sodium diet is recommended for the stone prone. Current guidelines suggest limiting total daily sodium intake to 2,300 mg. If sodium has contributed to kidney stones in the past, try to reduce your daily intake to 1,500 mg.
Limit animal protein: Eating too much animal protein, such as red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood, boosts the level of uric acid and could lead to kidney stones. A high-protein diet also reduces levels of citrate, the chemical in urine that helps prevent stones from forming. If you’re prone to stones, limit your daily meat intake to a quantity that is no bigger than a pack of playing cards.
Avoid stone-forming foods: Beets, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, tea, and most nuts are rich in oxalate, and colas are rich in phosphate, both of which can contribute to kidney stones. If you suffer from stones, your doctor may advise you to avoid these foods or to consume them in smaller amounts.
https://inews.co.uk/news/health/does-this-viral-photo-of-kidney-stones-show-the-effect-of-drinking-too-many-energy-drinks/
