Calcium's role in kidney stonesAssociations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D/calcium/alkaline phosphatase levels and the risk of developing kidney stones: Results from NHANES (2013-2018)-based and Mendelian randomization studies.
Calcium's association is complex
We explored the connections between calcium levels and kidney stones using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2013 to 2018, along with more advanced genetic analyses. Our aim was to understand how the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) might influence the risk of developing kidney stones.
While observational analyses suggested a relationship between ALP levels and kidney stones, we found that calcium levels did not display a significant association with kidney stones when looking at the data directly. However, utilizing Mendelian randomization analysis, we observed a potential causal link, indicating that elevated calcium levels could indeed raise the risk of developing kidney stones.
The key takeaway from our research is that while observational studies show no strong link between calcium and kidney stones, our genetic analysis implies that higher calcium may contribute to stone formation. Our work provides valuable insights and directions for future studies focused on preventing and treating this painful condition.
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