Protein Intake and High Uric Acid Stone Risk

Abstract

Rationale & Objective

We evaluated the metabolic differences between pure and impure uric acid stone formers in this retrospective study of uric acid kidney stone formers diagnosed between 1996 and 2021.

Study Design

Demographics and medical history were compared by χ² tests. Twenty-four-hour urine chemistries were compared using logistic regressions while controlling for demographics and comorbid conditions.

Setting & Participants

Patients from Yale Urology and Nephrology Clinics with a documented kidney stone analysis containing uric acid were included. In total, 4,294 kidney stone formers had a stone analysis, and 722 (16.8%) contained uric acid. Patients with all stone analyses $\ge$ 50% uric acid were allocated to the pure group, while patients with ≥1 stone analysis <50% uric acid were allocated to the impure group.

Results

Among kidney stone formers, the prevalence of uric acid nephrolithiasis was 16.8%. Pure uric acid stone formers were more likely to be older, heavier, and were 1.5 times more likely to have chronic kidney disease. When controlling for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and body mass index, pure uric acid stone formers had lower urinary pH and lower urine citrate normalized for creatinine. Additionally, they had a higher protein catabolic rate, urine urea nitrogen, and urine sulfur normalized for creatinine, all markers of dietary protein intake. These findings persisted after controlling for chronic kidney disease.

Limitations

This is a retrospective study from a single center.

Conclusions

Pure uric acid stone formation is more common with diminished kidney function; however, after controlling for kidney function, pure uric acid stone formation is associated with protein intake, suggesting that modifying protein intake may reduce risk.