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Have you had an excruciating pain in your lower back or side—as if a knife is twisting mercilessly in your torso? Or maybe you’ve had those urgent trips to the emergency room due to a kidney stone attack? The experience can be harrowing but is there no way to reduce the risk of these painful episodes? With myriad health tips floating around, you might wonder how seemingly harmless probiotics fit into the picture.
Can probiotics cause kidney stones, or are they an unlikely ally in preventing them? Read the blog to find out how these tiny microorganisms not only support your gut but also promote your kidney health. So, get ready to say bye to discomfort!
Understanding kidney stones
‘I have been suffering from kidney stones for the past two days.’ ‘The pain of kidney stones is unbearable.’ Have you also listened to such remarks from your friends and family? But, what exactly is a kidney stone? Does it mean there’s a literal stone in your kidney? Well, sort of. To understand whether probiotics can cause or prevent kidney stones, you must first be aware of what a kidney stone is and how it is formed.
Kidney stones are hard, crystalline minerals and acid salts that form inside your kidneys. Haven’t you seen how sugar solution crystallises to form a rock candy? Likewise, kidney stones form when there's too much waste in the urine and not enough liquid to dilute it. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a pea. When these stones pass through your urinary tract, they can cause severe pain.
What causes kidney stones? Several factors play a role here. Let’s look at the most common causes of kidney stones below:
- Dehydration: If you’re not drinking enough water, it results in concentrated urine, ideal for stone formation.
- Dietary habits: Consuming excessive sodium or a high-protein diet can promote stone development.
- Certain medical conditions: Conditions like diabetes or gout can increase the risk of kidney stone formation.
- Lifestyle factors: Being inactive or having a family history of stones can heighten your chances of encountering these painful deposits.
So, how do you know you’re suffering from kidney stones? Just check out if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain in your side or lower abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blood in urine
- Painful urination
- Fever and chills
So, can you manage this condition better by improving your gut? Or are probiotics the culprit behind the formation of these painful stones? Let’s delve into how your gut can influence your kidney health!
The role of gut health in kidney stones
How could kidney stones, a painful condition tightly linked to your urinary system, have anything to do with your gut? It might sound far-fetched at first. Yet, emerging research suggests that the health of your gut might hold important answers. Your body performs many complex functions through interconnected systems, and your gut plays a pivotal role in your overall well-being, including kidney health.
It’s a known fact that your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiome. If your gut has a good balance of harmful and beneficial bacteria, it is a sign of a healthy gut, which is essential for proper digestion, enhanced immunity, and improved mental health. But what’s more curious is their role in kidney health.
Changes in your gut microbiome can disrupt this delicate balance, affecting your health, including kidney function. This can lead to the accumulation of harmful toxins in the bloodstream, thus contributing to kidney stones.
Did you know that 60% of women suffer from UTIs? Watch the video below where an expert nutritionist talks about how a healthy gut can be your best defense against UTIs and recommends The Good Bug’s Good Down There probiotic!
Oxalate formation in kidney stones and gut bacteria
One particular area of focus is the metabolism of oxalate—an ingredient of kidney stones—by gut bacteria. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in many foods, including spinach, rhubarb, and nuts. While some oxalate is necessary for bodily functions, excessive amounts can contribute to kidney stone formation.
Gut bacteria help break down dietary oxalate and thereby shield against stone development. This process, known as oxalate degradation, reduces the amount of oxalate that is absorbed into the bloodstream and excreted in the urine. However, an imbalance in the gut microbiome can cause increased oxalate absorption from the gut. This excess oxalate is then filtered by the kidneys and crystallised, forming kidney stones.
Thus, maintaining a healthy gut is crucial for both preventing and managing kidney problems. So, what can you understand from this—Can probiotics cause kidney stones or do they help prevent it? Let’s peel off the layers and see why probiotics are truly worth it!
Can probiotics cause kidney stones?
Now that you’ve understood that your gut is responsible for kidney stone formation, you might be wondering how you can restore the balance in your gut. Well, including probiotics in your diet is a convenient method. However, you’ve read an online post stating their not-so-beneficial effects. So, it’s natural for you to be confused and think, ‘Can probiotics cause kidney stones or worsen the condition?’
Fortunately, this is a common misconception. Probiotics are not only safe but can also play a crucial role in preventing kidney stones. Let’s see how they can be potent allies in the fight against kidney stones:
- Reducing urinary oxalate levels: Oxalate is a critical molecule in the formation of calcium oxalate stones, the most common type of kidney stones. Certain probiotic strains, especially Oxalobacter formigenes, have a unique capacity to metabolise oxalate in the gut, which diminishes oxalate's absorption and presence in the body. This action reduces the oxalate available to be absorbed into the bloodstream and subsequently excreted in urine.
- The role of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium: These probiotic strains can also degrade oxalate at varying rates, further reducing its absorption in the gut. They manage this by fostering a favourable gut microbiota that can combat the conditions promoting stone formation.
So, it’s clear that probiotics help prevent kidney stone formation. But does everyone experience the same positive effects? Not necessarily! Discover the factors that can influence probiotic efficacy for kidney stones.
Factors influencing probiotic efficacy for kidney stones
You might have heard a friend or family member share their experience with probiotics, only to find that it didn’t quite live up to the hype. Perhaps they experienced digestive discomfort or other unexpected side effects. This can lead to confusion and even skepticism about the effectiveness of probiotics, especially when it comes to preventing kidney stones. So, before you make the verdict that probiotics can cause kidney stones, know that their effectiveness can vary; not everyone will experience the same positive outcomes. Here are a few factors that determine probiotic efficacy for kidney stones:
- Environmental factors: Exposure to pollutants, toxins, and even antibiotics can impact the gut microbiome and reduce the effectiveness of probiotics.
- Dietary influences: What you eat plays a crucial role in supporting beneficial bacteria that aid in the degradation of oxalates, which can help prevent kidney stones. While a high-fiber diet encourages the growth of these beneficial bacteria, low-fiber or high-protein diets may disrupt this balance, potentially worsening the risk of stone formation.
- Strain selection: Choosing the right probiotic strain is vital since different strains offer diverse benefits. Some strains are better suited for breaking down oxalates, which is particularly useful in preventing kidney stones. Selecting the appropriate strain can greatly influence the success of probiotic therapy.
- Dosage: The concentration and frequency of probiotic intake can affect their ability to colonise your gut. Higher concentrations may yield more meaningful results but should be balanced against the risk of side effects.
Also read: Can you Take Too Many Probiotics: Risks and Side Effects
- Duration of use: Sustained use of probiotics is typically necessary to achieve long-lasting benefits in reducing oxalate absorption. While short-term use might provide temporary improvements, continuous use is often required for ongoing benefits.
- Individual variations: Individual differences such as genetic factors, gut microbiota composition, and underlying health conditions can heavily influence how probiotics work for each person, resulting in varied outcomes.
If you’re considering taking probiotics, ensure to do it with proper guidance from your healthcare provider. They can assist in selecting the right strain, dosage, and duration tailored to your unique health requirements, ensuring that probiotic therapy is both effective and safe.
So, can probiotics cause kidney stones? The answer is a resounding no. In fact, probiotics can be a valuable tool in preventing and reducing the risk of kidney stones. By understanding the gut-kidney connection and the role of probiotics in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, you can take proactive steps to protect your kidney health. The key is to choose appropriate probiotic strains.
If you're looking to better your health, particularly kidney health, consider incorporating probiotics into your daily routine. For a reliable option, check out The Good Bug's probiotics, which contain beneficial strains that support your gut microbiota. Book a free consultation with our experts to know which probiotics are right for you!
References
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8773937/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5300857/
https://bmcmicrobiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12866-023-02891-0
https://internationalprobiotics.org/home/probiotics-figure-in-kidney-stones/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405805X24000309
