New Study Reveals Kidney Stone Formation Linked to Changes in Body's Microbiota
A recent study in the journal Microbiome with 3276 accesses has found that people with kidney stones have widespread changes in their microbiota - the tiny organisms living in different parts of the body, like the gut, urinary tract, and mouth. These findings suggest that the treatment for kidney stones might need to focus on fixing these microbiota changes, not just on the stones themselves.
Traditionally thought to affect mostly overweight, middle-aged men, kidney stones are becoming more common in women and children, signaling a broader health decline. The study, led by Kait F. Al and colleagues, looked at how bacteria in the body might be involved in kidney stone disease (KSD). They studied the bacteria in the gut, urine, and mouth of 83 people with kidney stones and compared them with 30 healthy people.
Researchers found that people with kidney stones had a different mix of bacteria across multiple body sites, not just the gut. This was seen in both the kinds of bacteria present and what these bacteria do. The study used advanced genetic sequencing techniques to figure this out, which is more reliable than previous methods. Interestingly, they didn't find big differences in how these bacteria handle a chemical called oxalate, which is often part of kidney stones.
The study suggests that kidney stone treatments should look at restoring the healthy function of bacteria in the body. It also hints that avoiding things that mess up these bacteria, like a bad diet or unnecessary antibiotics, might help prevent kidney stones from coming back.
Video abstract. Credits: Research Square
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International Society of Microbiota
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