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Tea and coffee consumption and the risk of urinary stones—a systematic review of the epidemiological data

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Abstract

Objective

To explore the relationship between the consumption of coffee and tea with urolithiasis. We evaluated large epidemiological and small clinical studies to draw conclusions regarding their lithogenic risk.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using the Medline and Scopus databases, in concordance with the PRISMA statement. English, French, and Spanish language studies regarding the consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and tea, and the relationship to urinary stone disease were reviewed. Case reports and letters, unpublished studies, posters, and comments were excluded.

Results

As per the inclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in the final review. Most studies, including four large prospective studies and one meta-analysis, reported a reduced risk of stone formation for coffee and tea. Caffeine has a diuretic effect and increases the urinary excretion of calcium, but if these losses are compensated for, moderate caffeine intakes may have little or no deleterious effects. Green and Herbal teas infused for short time had low oxalate content compared to black tea.

Conclusion

There is no evidence that moderate consumption of coffee raises the risk for stone formation in healthy individuals, provided the recommended daily fluid intake is maintained. The currently available literature supports in general a protective role for tea against the stone formation, mainly for green tea. However, heterogeneity of published data and lack of standardization needs to be addressed before final and clear conclusions can be given to patients and to the public in general.

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Funding

This is an independent study and is not funded by any external body.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groupe de Recherche Clinique Sur La Lithiase Urinaire, Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne Université, 75020, Paris, France

    Yazeed Barghouthy, Mariela Corrales, Steeve Doizi & Olivier Traxer

  2. Service d’Urologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne Université, 75020, Paris, France

    Yazeed Barghouthy, Mariela Corrales, Steeve Doizi & Olivier Traxer

  3. University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UK

    Bhaskar K. Somani

  4. Department of Urology, Tenon Hospital, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, 4 Rue de la Chine, 75020, Paris, France

    Steeve Doizi & Olivier Traxer

Authors
  1. Yazeed Barghouthy
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  2. Mariela Corrales
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  3. Steeve Doizi
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  4. Bhaskar K. Somani
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  5. Olivier Traxer
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Contributions

YB project development, data collection, manuscript writing. MC, SD data analysis, BK-S, OT project development, data collection, manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivier Traxer.

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This research is a review paper and does not involve research in humans or animals.

Disclosure

Prof. Olivier Traxer is a consultant for Coloplast, Rocamed, Olympus, EMS, Boston Scientific and IPG.

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Barghouthy, Y., Corrales, M., Doizi, S. et al. Tea and coffee consumption and the risk of urinary stones—a systematic review of the epidemiological data. World J Urol 39, 2895–2901 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03561-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03561-w

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