The relationship between zinc intake and the associated risk of kidney stones is still controversial. The main objective of this study was to examine the associations between dietary zinc intake, serum zinc levels, supplemental zinc intake and the incidence of kidney stones in adults. Adult participants were included from the 2007-2016 NHANES. Limited cubic splines were implemented to evaluate the dose-response relationships.

The results of the study suggested that dietary zinc intake was linearly associated with the incidence of kidney stones and the odds ratios of kidney stones were 0.75 for 10 mg/day, 0.65 for 20 mg/day, 0.53 for 30 mg/day and 0.45 for 40 mg/day. The linear association was observed in women and overweight or obese individuals also. There was no association found between supplemental zinc intake and the incidence of kidney stones. A non-linear association was found between serum zinc levels and the incidence of kidney stones and the odds ratios of kidney stones were 0.52 for 70 ug/dL, 0.43 for 90 ug/dL, 0.56 for 110 ug/dL and 0.77 for 130 ug/dL. The non-linear association was seen in men and overweight or obese individuals also.

The study concluded that dietary zinc intake and serum zinc levels were inversely linked with the incidence of kidney stones in adults. There might be effect alteration by participant’s sex and body mass index.

Source: Sun Y, Wang Y, Wang D, Zhou Q. Dietary zinc intake, supplemental zinc intake and serum zinc levels and the prevalence of kidney stones in adults. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2020 Jan;57:126410. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.126410. Epub 2019 Sep 24. PMID: 31570252.