AN NHIEN (According to Daily Mail, MedicalXpress)
Foods high in sugar have long been proven to increase many health risks such as overweight, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Recently, Chinese scientists discovered that the more added sugar consumed in processed foods (such as cookies, cakes, and soft drinks), the higher the risk of developing kidney stones.
Consuming too much sugar from processed foods is harmful to the body in many ways.
Kidney stones affect 7-15% of the population in North America, 5-9% in Europe, and 1-5% in Asia. They are caused by the formation of crystals from waste products in the blood. Over time, these crystals can accumulate into hard stones in the kidneys, causing severe pain and kidney infection if left untreated. Common symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, and blood in the urine. Kidney stones not only reduce the quality of life for patients but can also lead to long-term infections, kidney swelling (due to fluid retention), kidney failure, and end-stage renal disease. Risk factors for developing kidney stones include obesity, chronic diarrhea, dehydration, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or gout.
In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, experts at the hospital affiliated with North Sichuan Medical University analyzed over 11 years of follow-up data from 28,300 people aged 20 and older, 10% of whom had a history of kidney stones. Participants self-reported their health status and daily lifestyle habits – including diet – and underwent required physical examinations.
Through numerous in-person or telephone interviews, researchers estimated each participant's daily added sugar intake based on their food and beverage consumption. For example, participants were specifically asked whether they had consumed additional syrup, honey, dextrose, fructose, or raw sugar in the past 24 hours. Additionally, each participant was assessed on their Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) – a score summarizing their daily dietary intake based on two main aspects: adequate intake of healthy components (such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and limited intake of unhealthy foods (such as refined grains, salt, and saturated fats).
After accounting for other risk factors for kidney stone development (including gender, age, body mass index, smoking status, or diabetes), the research team found that the proportion of energy intake from added sugar was strongly and consistently associated with the risk of kidney stone development. Specifically, participants with added sugar intake in the “top 25% of the population with the highest sugar tolerance” had a 39% higher rate of developing kidney stones during the study period. Similarly, those who consumed more than one-quarter of their total daily energy intake from added sugar had an 88% higher rate of developing kidney stones compared to those who consumed less than 5% of their total energy intake from added sugar.
Although the exact mechanism by which high consumption of added sugar leads to a higher risk of developing kidney stones is not yet fully understood, Dr. Shan Yin, the lead researcher, stated that this is the first study to demonstrate this link. The research results also suggest that limiting added sugar intake from food may help prevent the risk of kidney stone formation.
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