Do Energy Drinks Cause Kidney Stones? Key Guide

If you have a known history of kidney stones, it is understandable that you’re going to worry. So, do energy drinks cause kidney stones? This may just be one of the questions you may be asking right now. Energy drinks can contribute to kidney stone formation through multiple mechanisms including high sodium content, oxalates, excessive caffeine, and added sugars that increase stone-forming substances in urine.

While moderate caffeine intake from sources like coffee may actually protect against stones, the concentrated amounts and additional ingredients in energy drinks create significant risks. Prevention strategies include staying well-hydrated, limiting consumption, choosing lower-risk alternatives, and making dietary modifications to counteract the effects of these beverages.

Key Takeaways

• Energy drinks may contribute to kidney stones due to sodium, oxalates, caffeine, and fructose

• Ingredients like artificial sweeteners and high B vitamins can increase stone risk

• Other risks include dehydration, high blood pressure, and potential chronic kidney disease

• Prevention includes hydration, dietary adjustments, and moderating energy drink consumption

• It is advised limiting the intake, especially for those with kidney stones history

What are kidney stones and how do they form?

Kidney stones are hard deposits composed of minerals and salts that form within your kidneys. These are painful formations that develop when your urine becomes concentrated, which consequently allows minerals to stick together.

Learning more about kidney stones helps you make informed choices about what you drink. Your kidneys’ function is to filter waste from your blood to produce urine. When certain substances are present in high concentrations, it promotes the formation of crystals, which could grow into bigger stones over time.

A number of kidney stone types exist, including:

• Calcium oxalate stones—the most common kidney stone; forms when calcium binds with oxalate; composes 75-85% of calcium stones

• Uric acid stones—develop when urine becomes too acidic

• Struvite stones—form after urinary tract infections

• Cystine stones—rare stones caused by genetic disorders

In the United States, an estimated 10% of the population will experience kidney stones at one point in their lifetime. It is more common in men (12.5%) with peak incidence at age 40-60 years than with women (6.25%) at age 20-50 years.

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of kidney stones, include:

• Dehydration from not drinking enough fluids

• High sodium diets that increase calcium in urine

• Eating too much animal protein

• Obesity and weight gain

• Family history of kidney stones

• Certain medical conditions like diabetes

Your body normally keeps the urine diluted so stone-forming substances don’t get to stick together. Problems arise if you don’t drink enough water or are taking in more stone-forming molecules. Climate also plays a role—people who live in hot, dry weather form stones more easily often because of increased dehydration risks.

How do energy drinks contribute to kidney stone formation?

Energy drinks can contribute to kidney stones due to its high sodium, oxalates, and other stone-forming properties. These beverages contain multiple minerals or compounds that work together to increase the risk of stone-formation.

Popular energy drinks in the market contain concerning amounts of stone-promoting substances. Knowing these ingredients would help you be more proactive in protecting your kidneys from these compounds.

The main substances of energy drinks include:

• High sodium content that increases calcium levels in the urine

• Oxalates that combine with calcium to form stones

• Excessive caffeine content that causes dehydration

• Added sugars and artificial sweeteners

• High levels of vitamin-B

A study has found that consuming energy drinks significantly increase kidney stone formation. The study showed the multiple compounds that are mentioned earlier to be the main culprits. They also highlighted that there are elevated levels of calcium and oxalates in the urine after drinking. These findings support the claim that energy drinks promote kidney stones.

What role does sodium in energy drinks play in kidney stone formation?

High sodium increases calcium excretion in urine that leads to stone formation. Your kidneys respond to the excess sodium by removing calcium from the blood as well. This combination creates an ideal environment for calcium-based stones.

For instance, an 8-ounce Monster Energy drink contains about 8% (180 mg) of sodium. This may be a modest value compared to the recommended daily intake of sodium, which is no more than 2,300 mg. However, drinking multiple ounces of this energy drink adds up the sodium consumption quickly. Many people practice this especially when their activities prompt them to do so. This pushes sodium intake to a more dangerous level (not to mention there are other ingredients to think about as well).

The body maintains the balance (homeostasis) between sodium and calcium levels as well as other electrolytes. When sodium levels are high, the kidney releases calcium into the urine. The calcium will then bind to phosphates or oxalates that form stones.

Some of the energy drinks with its sodium content are as follows:

• Monster Energy (discussed): 180 mg per 8 oz

• Red Bull: 105 mg per 8.4 oz

• Rockstar: 240 mg per 16 oz

• Bang Energy: 40 mg per 16 oz

How do oxalates from energy drinks contribute to kidney stones?

Oxalates in energy drinks increase oxalate levels in the urine. This promotes the formation of calcium oxalate stones. These compounds are contained in many foods. But they become problematic when they become too concentrated.

Energy drinks often contain high amounts of oxalates or compounds that increase oxalate production. Your body absorbs these oxalates, which will then travel to your kidneys and subsequently gets excreted in the urine.

Sources of oxalates in energy drinks include:

• Natural flavoring compounds

• Certain vitamin additives

• Plant-based ingredients

• Artificial preservatives

Dietary oxalates contribute significantly to the risk of stone formation by increasing oxalate levels. People who are susceptible to calcium oxalate stones must limit oxalate-rich foods and beverages.

Does caffeine in energy drinks increase the risk of kidney stones?

Caffeine acts as a diuretic, which could lead to dehydration and concentrating stone-forming substances in the urine. Moderate caffeine intake may actually be protective. But in excessive amounts, this may not be so.

The relationship between caffeine and kidney stones is somewhat complex. Caffeinated beverages are known to contain oxalates, which can increase urinary excretion of calcium. But this relationship may turn the other way. Studies have shown there is an inverse relationship between kidney stone formation and caffeine intake.

However, it cannot be denied that energy drinks contain more caffeine levels than regular coffee or tea. The usual 8-ounce coffee only has 95 mg caffeine. Whereas, energy drinks contain between 50-300 mg of caffeine per serving.

In moderation, caffeine intake may be beneficial and protective. However, excessive intake could lead to an increased risk of stone formation. Increasing caffeine increases the risk of dehydration, which consequently promotes stone formation.

Caffeine effects on the kidney include:

• Increased urine production initially

• Dehydration if consumed in excessive amounts

• Increases blood pressure

• Interferes with calcium absorption

The problem is more pronounced if people use energy drinks as their primary source of fluid. Your kidneys need an adequate amount of water to effectively dilute stone-forming substances.

What are the other kidney-related risks of drinking energy drinks?

Apart from kidney stone risk, energy drinks pose other serious threats to kidney health. It could potentially result in chronic kidney disease. These beverages increase the stress placed on the kidneys in multiple ways.

Regular energy drink consumption creates a cascade of health problems more than just stone formation. Your kidneys work harder in processing excess caffeine, sugar, and additives while maintaining fluid balance.

Major kidney health concerns include:

• Acute kidney injury from severe dehydration

• Chronic kidney disease from long-term damage

• High blood pressure straining kidney blood vessels

• Electrolyte imbalances disrupting kidney function

• Medication interactions affecting kidney processing

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the number of energy drinks-related emergency room visits doubled with 10% thereof resulted in hospitalization in 2011 alone.

A study states that frequent energy drink consumption may affect the liver and kidney function, particularly if excessive. Effects may include potential liver strain and altered waste processing capacity of the kidneys. This is excluding any potential risk of diabetes due to high sugar content in these energy drinks.

Young adults, who consume a lot of energy drinks, are particularly vulnerable to all these risks. It is important to know that kidney damage doesn’t always come with symptoms especially when the other kidney is still compensating. It is only when the disease has advanced that kidney functioning has deteriorated.

Can I still drink energy drinks if I'm prone to kidney stones?

Yes, you may still drink energy drinks even if you’re prone to kidney stones. However, moderation is key. You must consult a healthcare provider, especially with existing health issues.

You have to limit your consumption and choose low-sodium or sugar-free options when you do decide to consume one. Always stay hydrated especially if you are prone to kidney stones. Complete avoidance and abstinence is ideal but you could benefit from moderation if it cannot be avoided.

You must approach the entire ordeal with caution. Since your kidneys have already demonstrated a struggle in processing substances that are stone-forming.

Some recommendations are as follows:

• Limit drinking energy drinks down to occasional

• Choose products that have low sodium content

• Drink extra water before and after consuming the energy drinks

• Monitor your urine color as an indicator of concentration or dehydration

• Consult your doctor about safe consumption levels

If you can’t avoid energy drinks, timing is important. You should avoid them during hot weather, exercise, and when you are sick because these instances increase your risk of dehydration. Avoid using energy drinks as a primary source of fluid.

You should consider these safer alternatives:

• Green tea for natural caffeine

• Coconut water for electrolytes

• Diluted fruit juices for flavor

• Sparkling water with natural flavoring

Also, track your symptoms when you are consuming energy drinks. You can also use at-home urine strip testing to monitor your urine pH and concentration. These activities can detect early signs of kidney problems.

How can I prevent kidney stones if I consume energy drinks?

Prevention involves staying hydrated and making dietary adjustments to counteract energy drink effects. Proactive measures can significantly reduce your stone formation risk.

The key to prevention lies in diluting stone-forming substances and maintaining proper mineral balance. Your approach should address both immediate and long-term kidney health.

How much water should I drink to counteract the effects of energy drinks?

You should drink 8-10 cups of water daily. But you should consume more if you are taking diuretic drinks or beverages like energy drinks.

Your body needs water more if you are consuming diuretic because of increased urine production. Approximately 20% of water comes from food but the rest are from the drinks you consume.

Monitor your urine color as a hydration indicator:

• Pale yellow indicates good hydration

• Dark yellow suggests dehydration

• Clear urine might indicate overhydration

Spread water consumption throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts at once. Your kidneys process fluids more effectively with steady and consistent intake.

Are there low-oxalate energy drink alternatives?

Yes, there are energy drinks that contain low oxalate levels. However, a safer alternative would be natural drinks like green tea.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases formulated the diet, eating, and nutrition for people who are prone to have kidney stones.

Some energy drinks are marketed as “natural” but may actually contain higher levels of oxalate than plant-based counterparts. You should always read labels carefully and research any unfamiliar ingredient.

Some safer energy drink alternatives, include:

• Green tea (moderate caffeine, antioxidants)

• White tea (lower caffeine, less processing)

• Yerba mate (natural caffeine source)

• Kombucha (probiotics, lower caffeine)

• Coconut water with natural fruit flavoring

These alternatives provide energy without the concentrated minerals and additives found in commercial energy drinks.

What dietary changes can help reduce the risk of kidney stones?

Dietary changes that may help reduce the risk of kidney stones include: low sodium diet, moderate protein intake, increased citrate-rich foods, and consulting your doctor for supplements.

Comprehensive dietary modifications work better than single changes. Your eating pattern can also affect your stone-forming risk.

Dietary changes should include:

• Lower sodium intake with no more than 2,300 mg per day

• Consume animal protein in moderation at 6-8 ounces per day

• Increase citrus fruit consumption for natural citrate source

• Choose whole grains over refined carbohydrates

• Increase calcium-containing foods in meals

Also, timing matters when consuming calcium and oxalate-rich foods. Eating them together helps bind oxalates in your intestines. Thus, preventing it from being absorbed.

However, you must avoid these high-risk combinations:

• Energy drinks with high-oxalate snacks

• Excessive vitamin C supplements

• High-sodium processed foods

• Excessive animal protein

When you are in doubt about your risk of kidney stones and you wish to know more about any preventive measures, always consult your doctor.

Quick Summary Box

• Energy drinks contain high levels of sodium, oxalates, caffeine, and sugar that promote kidney stone formation

• An 8-ounce Monster Energy drink contains 180 mg of sodium, which increases calcium excretion in urine

• Besides kidney stones, energy drinks can cause dehydration, high blood pressure, and potential chronic kidney disease

• Prevention requires drinking 8-10 cups of water daily and limiting energy drink consumption to occasional use

• Medical experts recommend choosing natural alternatives like green tea and staying well-hydrated rather than relying on energy drinks

 

Related Resources

How Long Do Kidney Stones Last? Must Know

What Is a Kidney Cleanse and Is It Necessary?

Living with One Kidney: How to Stay Healthy and Protect Your Kidney for Life

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all energy drinks equally bad for kidney health?

Not all energy drinks are the same; some have lower sodium, sugar, or oxalates. Read labels and choose wisely.

Can drinking water with energy drinks prevent kidney stones?

Hydration helps, but water alone may not be enough if drinks contain high stone-forming substances. Moderation is key.

Is there a safe amount of energy drinks to consume without risking kidney stones?

No universal safe amount exists; it depends on individual health and diet. Limit intake and prioritize water.

Written by Jaclyn P. Leyson-Azuela, RMT, MD, MPH
Jaclyn P. Leyson-Azuela, RMT, MD, MPH, is a licensed General Practitioner and Public Health Expert. She currently serves as a physician in private practice, combining clinical care with her passion for preventive health and community wellness.

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