Drinking More Water Alone Not Enough to Prevent Kidney Stones: Study

KARACHI: A new medical study has challenged the common belief that increasing water intake alone is sufficient to prevent kidney stones.
According to research published in The Lancet in 2026, simply drinking more water does not significantly reduce the risk of kidney stones recurring.
The study analyzed more than 1,600 individuals who had previously experienced kidney stones. Participants were encouraged to increase their water intake, but the findings showed that this alone had little impact on preventing recurrence.
Experts emphasized that the real target should be producing at least 2.5 liters of urine daily, which may not always be achieved by drinking water alone.
They noted that while hydration is important, it is not sufficient by itself. Diet, salt intake, and the body’s metabolism also play key roles in stone formation.
According to the findings, effective prevention requires multiple measures, including reducing salt intake, consuming adequate calcium, maintaining balanced meat consumption, and moderating foods high in oxalates, such as spinach and beetroot.
Medical experts added that in cases of recurrent kidney stones, doctors may prescribe medications such as Potassium citrate, Thiazide diuretics, and Allopurinol.
Experts further advised focusing on urine output rather than just water intake. They suggested that for better hydration, adding a pinch of salt and lemon juice to water may improve absorption.
According to medical professionals, light yellow-colored urine is generally considered a sign of adequate hydration.