Vitamin C Increases Mens' Risk of Kidney Stones

Men that take high-dose vitamin C have a greater risk of developing kidney stones, however no risk was found in men taking multivitamins, according to a new study. 

To further examine a proposed correlation between ascorbic acid and kidney stones, Agneta Akesson, PhD, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues analyzed data 23,355 men, 436 of which developed kidney stones over more than a decade of follow-up. 

Rate of kidney stone development among those taking vitamin C supplements was 310 per 100,000, but only 163 per 100,000 among those not taking the supplements. 

Risk was highest among men who reported taking more than 7 tablets of vitamin C a week, and although dosage was not recorded, researchers reported that the majority of vitamin C tablets in Sweden contain 1000 mg per tablet. 

-Michael Potts

References

Akesson A, Thomas L, Elinder C, et al.  Ascorbic Acid Supplements and Kidney Stone Incidence Among Men: A Prospective Study [published online ahead of print February 4, 2013].  JAMA Intern Med. 2013;():1-2. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.2296.