Caffeine in kidney stone disease: Risk or benefit?

• Main Authors: Paleerath Peerapen, Visith Thongboonkerd
• Other Authors: Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
• Format: Review
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Medicine; Nursing
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/44723
• Institution: Mahidol University

© 2018 American Society for Nutrition. All rights reserved. Kidney stone disease is a global health care problem, with a high recurrence rate after stone removal. It is thus crucial to develop effective strategies to prevent the formation of new or recurrent stones. Caffeine is one of the main components in caffeinated beverages worldwide (i.e., coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks). Previous retrospective and prospective studies have reported contradictory effects of caffeine on kidney stone risk. Although it has a diuretic effect on enhancing urinary output, itmay slightly increase the stone risk index. However, 3 large cohorts have suggested a preventive role of caffeine in kidney stone disease. In addition, a recent in vitro study has addressed relevantmechanisms underlying the preventive role of caffeine against stone pathogenesis. This review summarizes the relevant data fromprevious evidence and discusses the association between caffeine consumption and kidney stone risk reduction.