A kidney stone is a hard mass with sharp, jagged edges that can cause severe pain when it moves through the urinary tract. There is often no definite, single cause of kidney stones, and according to the Mayo Clinic, "A number of factors, often in combination, create the conditions in which susceptible people develop kidney stones." Soda pop may be one of the many causes.
Causes
Drinking too little water, being obese and eating food that is high in salt or sugar are possible causes of kidney stones. According to the National Kidney Foundation, "Eating too much fructose correlates with increasing risk of developing a kidney stone. Fructose can be found in table sugar and high fructose corn syrup." Non-diet soda pop generally contains the equivalent of 6 teaspoons of sugar or high fructose corn syrup in an 8 oz serving.
Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Company addresses the so-called rumor that soda pop causes kidney stones on their website by stating, "We would like to assure you that soft drinks do not cause kidney stones." Instead, the website insists that just the opposite is true. "An inadequate intake of fluids is a major contributing factor toward formation of kidney stones. Soft drinks provide a pleasant and refreshing way to consume part of a person's daily fluid requirements, thereby encouraging adequate fluid intake," states the website.
Increased Risk
"The New York Times" reported in January 2008 the results of a study published in the journal "Epidemiology." The authors of the study say their "findings support the long-held notion that something about cola, the phosphoric acid, for example, or the ability of cola to pull calcium from bones, seems to increase the risk of kidney stones." Cola beverages can increase the risk, more so than non-cola soda pop.
Recurrence
A soda intervention was performed on kidney stone sufferers, reducing the amount of cola beverages consumed to less than half of previous levels, according to Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D. Results showed that when drinkers of cola beverages reduced their consumption, they were almost one-third less likely to experience recurrence of stones. Cola beverages are included by The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases on a list of foods that doctors may advise patients to avoid.
