High ascorbic acid linked to kidney stones

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STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Researchers in Sweden suggest high-dose ascorbic acid may be associated with the risk of kidney stones.

Laura D.K. Thomas and colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, evaluated whether ascorbic acid supplements -- a form of vitamin C of approximately 1,000 milligrams -- were associated with the formation of kidney stones in a group of men in Sweden.

The study involved 48,850 men ages 45-79 years at baseline. The study participants were part of a study group who were recruited in 1997 and who provided detailed diet and lifestyle data in a questionnaire.

During 11 years of follow-up, there were 436 incident cases of kidney stones.

The study, published in the journal Internal Medicine, found ascorbic acid use was associated with a statistically significant two-fold increased risk of kidney stones. However, multivitamin use was not associated with kidney stone risk, the study said.