A new study suggests that eating more of this vitamin may reduce the risk of kidney stones by 22%.

Even just saying the words “kidney stones” can make people cringe, imagining the infamous pain these tiny mineral troublemakers can cause. Essentially, kidney stones are hard deposits formed in the kidneys from minerals and salts. If you’ve never had one, count your blessings. If you have, then you already know you'd do just about anything to avoid another visit from these sinister stones.

Now, while there’s no magic spell to guarantee you’ll be kidney-stone-free for life, there are a few lifestyle changes and dietary tweaks that might tip the odds in your favor. Enter the latest research finding: data published in Scientific Reports suggests that increasing niacin intake might help reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.1 This article will take a closer look at the details of this new research and explore what it means for you. By understanding these findings, you’ll gain insight into how you may have one more tool in the arsenal against those pebble-sized pains in the back.

How Was This Study Conducted?

Kidney stones are a common issue, affecting around 11% of certain populations in the United States.2 Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is an important nutrient that the body needs to function properly. However, while niacin plays many crucial roles in the body, it is unclear if this nutrient impacts kidney stone risk.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large health survey that ran from 2007 to 2018, was the focus of this study. Researchers evaluated what people ate over a 24-hour period to learn how much niacin they were consuming. They also asked participants if they had a history of kidney stones through a questionnaire.

They analyzed the data using advanced statistical techniques to investigate the possibility of a link between niacin consumption and kidney stones. A total of 28,508 people participated in the study, making it a comprehensive investigation into the possibility that a diet high in niacin may increase the risk of kidney stones. The participants' average age was slightly more than 47 years old.

What Was Discovered by the Study?

Researchers discovered that people who suffer from kidney stones frequently share a number of characteristics after analyzing the data. They are more likely to be men, older, white, have higher household incomes, smoke, exercise more and have a history of conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Interestingly, they also tend to consume less niacin through their diet.

The likelihood of developing kidney stones was approximately 22% lower in the group that consumed the most niacin compared to the group that consumed the least amount. People under the age of 60 particularly benefited from this benefit. The "L-shaped" pattern of the link between niacin and kidney stone risk was also observed by scientists, indicating that even a modest increase in niacin intake appeared to reduce the risk. These results suggest that eating more foods high in niacin may reduce the risk of developing kidney stones, particularly in younger adults.