Eating More of This Vitamin May Lower Kidney Stone Risk by 22%, New Study Suggests

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-size pains in the back.

How Was This Study Conducted?

In the United States, kidney stones are a common problem that affects about 11% of certain populations2. Niacin, which is also known as vitamin B3, is a crucial 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. Through a questionnaire, they also asked participants if they had a history of kidney stones. To study the potential link between niacin intake and kidney stones, they used advanced statistical methods to analyze the data. 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 Did the Study Find?

After analyzing the data, researchers found that people who experience kidney stones often share certain characteristics. They are more likely to be men, to be white, to be older, to have higher household incomes, to smoke, to exercise more, and to have diabetes or high blood pressure in the past. Interestingly, they also tend to consume less niacin through their diet.

Those who consumed the most niacin had a 22% lower risk of developing kidney stones when compared to those who consumed the least amount. This benefit was particularly noticeable in people under the age of 60. 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.