However, the researchers could not see any link between kidney stones and so-called multivitamins – which contain small amounts of vitamin C.
The research is based on data from a large population-based study of men from Västmanland and Örebro counties who were followed for 11 years. In total, 23 355 men who had not previously suffered from kidney stones and who either do not use supplements or just took the supplements in the form of vitamin C.
During the study period, 436 of the men developed kidney stones as a result, they had to seek medical care. The researchers then compared the risk of developing kidney stones among those taking vitamin C with those who did not. The analysis was repeated for those using multivitamin.
The researchers were then able to see that the men who regularly took vitamin C supplements in the form were twice as likely to develop kidney stones compared with men who did not take vitamin C.
The more often the men took vitamin C, the higher the risk of kidney stones. However, regular use of multivitamin supplements showed no association with increased risk of kidney stones, which the researchers probably because the dose of vitamin C is usually significantly lower than in multivitamins supplements with vitamin C alone.
For the same reason, the increase in risk is not transferred to the intake of vitamin C from food, such as fruit, vegetables and potatoes.
Source: Karolinska Institutet
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