When it comes to kidney stones -- mineral and acid salts that crystallize in your kidneys -- no single cause is universally to blame. No published evidence suggests that low doses of dietary niacin, known as vitamin B3, will lead to kidney stones. However, if you have existing kidney disease, taking niacin supplements may worsen your condition. Most people get all of the niacin they need from their diet, so talk to your doctor before taking niacin or any kind of dietary supplement.
Niacin Needs and Sources
Most women need 14 milligams of niacin daily while men need 16 milligrams. Pregnant and breastfeeding females younger than 18 require 30 milligrams of niacin a day, and pregnant and breastfeeding women older than 18 require 35 milligrams. Niacin occurs naturally in a wide variety of foods, including peanuts, beef, salmon, chicken, eggs, milk, green vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals. A few examples of the niacin amounts in certain foods include: peanuts, 3.4 milligrams per ounce; beef sirloin, 6.5 milligrams per 100 grams; asparagus, 1.3 milligrams per cup; and salmon, 7.9 milligrams per 100 grams.
Risk Factors
If you obtain most of your niacin from protein or salty nuts, this could increase your risk for kidney stones. A high-protein, high-sodium, high-sugar diet may also make you susceptible to some types of kidney stones, according to MayoClinic.com. Other risk factors include a family history of kidney stones, obesity and dehydration. If you’re male or older than 40, you face an increased risk of developing kidney stones. Gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel diseases and some urinary tract infections may also cause kidneys stones.
Niacin Side Effects
If you take niacin in supplement form, check the product label. Some supplements contain 500 milligrams of niacin -- more than 30 times your daily need for vitamin B3. If you take more than 50 milligrams daily of niacin, you may experience skin flushes, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Serious side effects, including speeding the progression of kidney disease, usually occur at high doses of 3 grams daily. Other side effects of taking large amounts of niacin include liver damage, heartbeat irregularity, gout and gastrointestinal ulcers.
Kidney Stone Treatment
Treatment for kidney stones depends on the size and cause of the stones. Small stones, for example, may require minor measures, such as drinking a lot of water to help pass the stones and/or taking pain reliever to reduce your discomfort. Shock wave therapy may break up larger stones, making them small enough to pass, or you may require surgery to remove large stones. If your kidney stones are caused by a parathyroid disorder that increases the level of calcium in your urine, you may need surgery to remove the glands or benign tumors on the glands.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- MedlinePlus: Niacin and Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- MayoClinic.com; Kidney Stones; January 2010
- United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database
- MayoClinic.com; Kidney Stones -- Risk Factors; January 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Kidney Stones -- Treatments and Drugs; January 2010
