The positive effect of the pH and volume of fluid intake on kidney stones in adult men

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between pH of water or other daily
fluid intake and risk of kidney stones in adult men.
Design/methodology/approach – This case–control study included 120 adult men with kidney stones
and 240 healthy controls matched by age. Participants were selected from the Urmia Imam Khomeini
Educational Hospital in the northwest of Iran by the available sampling method between 2017 and 2018. The
mean total daily fluid intake of the subjects over the past one year period was collected using a validated 139-
item Food Frequency Questionnaire, and the pH of drinking water samples consumed over the past six
months was determined using an electrochemical pH meter. Information on physical activity level and sociodemographic
characteristics of all participants was collected.
Findings – The mean pH of daily water consumption was 7.1 6 250.3 and 7.4%6 250.3 in case and
control groups, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the
covariates 25 a significant relationship was detected between the pH of drinking water (not for other
fluid intake26) and kidney stone disease (OR = 0.15, CI 0.06–0.4, P > 1. Moreover, no association was
found between the volume of total fluid intake and risk of kidney stones.Originality/value – These findings support potential protective effects of drinking water intake with
higher pH level on preventing kidney stones.