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Gender and urinary pH affect melamine-associated kidney stone formation risk
Xiuli Lu1, Jing Wang, Xiangyu Cao
1School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China.
Insights
Melamine-contaminated milk powder increased kidney stone risk in young children. Male gender and acidic urine were identified as significant risk factors in this study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Melamine contamination of milk powder has been linked to kidney stone formation in children.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for preventing melamine-induced nephrolithiasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between gender, age, and urinary pH with melamine-associated kidney stone risk in children under three years old.
- To identify specific demographic and physiological factors contributing to melamine nephrotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 217 children under 3 years old exposed to melamine-contaminated Sanlu milk powder.
- Clinical screening for kidney stones and comparison between cases (83) and normal subjects (125).
- Statistical analysis (Chi-square) to evaluate differences in gender, age, and urinary pH.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between melamine-associated kidney stone risk and gender (OR, 2.03; P=0.02) and urinary pH (OR, 1.78; P=0.04).
- Male children had approximately a twofold increased risk compared to female children.
- Acidic urine was associated with a 1.78-fold increased risk of kidney stones.
Conclusions:
- Gender and urinary pH are significantly associated with the risk of melamine-induced kidney stone formation in young children.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering gender and urinary environment in assessing melamine-related kidney stone risk.
Objectives:
Melamine was known as a new risk for kidney stone due to recent incidences of milk powder contamination in China. Here, we performed a retrospective study to investigate whether age, gender, and urinary pH affect melamine-associated kidney stone risk.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective review was performed of 217 children aged less than 3 years old. All children had a history of being fed with Sanlu milk powder contaminated by melamine, and underwent a clinical screening on kidney stone in Shenyang from November 2008 to February 2009. A comparison with the Chi-square was conducted between 83 cases and 125 normal subjects. The difference between children's gender, age, and urinary pH was evaluated.
Results:
A total of 208 subjects, 136 boys and 72 girls, were included in the study. Significant association was observed between melamine-associated kidney stone risk and gender [odds ratio (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-3.74; P=0.02] and urinary pH (OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.01-3.11; P=0.04), respectively. Male children were at about twofold increased melamine-associated kidney stone risk compared with female children. Acidic urine showed about 1.78-fold increased melamine-associated kidney stone risk compared with normal urine.
Conclusions:
Our investigation results showed an association of gender and urinary pH with melamine-associated kidney stone formation risk.
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