Friday July 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in American Journal of Kidney Diseases suggests that the formation of kidney stones in a person indicates that he is at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease /events such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke.

The study shows that kidney stones were correlated with 19% increased risk of coronary heart disease and 40% increased risk of stroke.

Particularly, people with kidney stones were found 29% and 31% more likely to suffer myocardial infarction and coronary revascularization, respectively, compared to those without kidney stones.

Women with kidney stones were at particularly higher risk for myocardial infarction and coronary revascularization.  In these women, the risk was 49% higher, compared with 15% higher in men with kidney stones.

The study was based on data from six cohort studies of 49,597 patients with kidney stones and 3,558,053 controls.

The link between kidney stones and risk of cardiovascular disease does not mean that kidney stones cause cardiovascular disease.  It is more likely that the formation of kidney stones and development of cardiovascular disease share some common dietary risk factors.

The study concluded "Kidney stones were associated with increased cardiovascular risk, including the risk for incident CHD (coronary heart disease) or stroke. There is some suggestion that the risk may be higher in women than men."

Studies have shown that eating meat including fish can increase risk of kidney stones.  Animal protein results in low acidity of the blood and also leads to an increased level of uric acid.  Both can boost the risk factors for kidney stones.  Meat consumption has been linked also to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Comment: A simple remedy:  cut back on meat and fish consumption and increase consumption of fruit and vegetables.  For those who have already developed kidney stones, potassium citrate pills, which can be purchased at local pharmacies, may help "dissolve" kidney stones, as trials demonstrated.  (David Liu, PHD)

Reference: Yanqiong Liu, MM, Shan Li, MD, PhD, Zhiyu Zeng, MD, PhD, Jian Wang, MD, Li Xie, MD, Taijie Li, MD, Yu He, MD, Xue Qin, MD, PhD,   Kidney Stones and Cardiovascular Risk: A Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies, American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2014