New data shows a potential link between niacin intake and kidney stone risk.
Photo: Ali Redmond.
Essentially, kidney stones are hard deposits made up of minerals and salts that form in your kidneys.
Photo:Photo: Ali Redmond. EatingWell design.
If youve never had one, count your blessings.
How Was This Study Conducted?
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.
The average age of the participants was a little over 47 years old.
What Did the Study Find?
After analyzing the data, researchers found that people who experience kidney stones often share certain characteristics.
Interestingly, they also tend to consume less niacin through their diet.
This benefit was particularly noticeable in people under the age of 60.
Niacin has antioxidant properties that help fight these effects.
There are a few important limits to consider in the study.
Cross-sectional studies capture data at a single point in time, making it difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
It seems that niacin intake may play a role in reducing your risk of these painful deposits.
Of course, its not quite as simple as just sprinkling niacin over your dinner and declaring yourself invincible.
Ultimately, its important to approach it with realistic expectations.
You dont need to overhaul your entire diet overnight or start obsessing over niacin levels.
Its always a good idea to speak with your doctor before adding a supplement to your routine.
Incorporating niacin-rich foods into your diet might just be another step toward keeping your kidneys happy and healthy.
But remember, no single nutrient is a cure-all.
And when it comes to kidney stones, its always better to prevent than to pass, right?
2020;12(3):779. doi: 10.3390/nu12030779
National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Niacin.
