The kidneys are part of your body's filtration system. Located in your lower back, the twin organs purify 50 gallons of blood daily. Every time you urinate, you pass the waste that the kidneys pull out of the bloodstream. Certain substances that pass through the urinary system can cause a medical condition called urolithiasis, commonly known as kidney stones. Research has found a link between the food additive aspartame and these stones.
Aspartame and Kidney Stones
The results of a study published in "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism" reveal that aspartame increases calcium in the urine, a condition called calciuria. According to PubMed Health, calcium accumulation is the most common reason for the formation of kidney stones. In their published report, the researchers who investigated a possible link between aspartame and renal stone problems advise people with a history of stones to avoid long-term consumption of large amounts of aspartame.
About Aspartame
Food scientists combine the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid to make aspartame. The resulting substance is 220 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame is sold under different brand names as an artificial sugar substitute. Food manufacturers also use it as a food additive. Some products labeled "sugar-free" have aspartame listed as an ingredient. Aspartame adds no calories to the foods it sweetens.
Kidney Stones and Calcium
PubMed Health says that kidney stones are clusters of small crystals. They form when certain substances accumulate in the urine instead of being flushed out. The reasons why these particles stay in the body vary. Excess uric acid, for example, is a cause of kidney stones mostly in male patients suffering from gout or undergoing chemotherapy. Calcium deposits also occur more often in men. Although scientists have made an association between aspartame and kidney stones, it is unlikely that the food additive is the sole reason for the potential calcification in the kidneys. But since calcium kidney stones are likely to reoccur, avoiding aspartame may reduce the number of renal episodes you experience. Check with a kidney specialist for a professional opinion.
Kidney Stone Symptoms
The National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse lists severe back pain, cloudy or bloody urine and smelly urine as possible indications you have kidney stones. Other potential symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting and pain whenever you urinate. While kidney stones can bring on these reactions, different diseases can also manifest in the same manner. Consult a doctor for a firm diagnosis and adequate treatment.
Considerations
Any changes you make because of the link between aspartame and kidney stones need to be done in consultation with your doctor. One possibility to discuss is the switch to a different noncaloric sweetener to lower the risk of kidney stones. Reducing the amount of aspartame in your diet may also be a preventive measure. The researchers who unveiled the connection warn against the "long term ingestion of large amounts of aspartame in patients with a history of urolithiasis."
References
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC): What I Need to Know About Kidney Stones
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC): Kidney Stones in Adults
- "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism"; Aspartame Ingestion Increases Urinary Calcium, But Not Oxalate Excretion, in Healthy Subjects; Uyen Nhu Nguyen, et al.; January 1998
- PubMed Health: Kidney Stones
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sweeteners -- All Information
