From The Thaiger

The Thai Department of Health issued a health warning to avid Thai milk tea drinkers about the risk of developing kidney stones due to the high sugar, calcium content, and compounds found in tea leaves.

A post on the Department of Health’s Facebook page today cautioned those who consume milk tea daily, highlighting the potential health risks associated with their favourite beverage. The statement emphasised that regular consumption of Thai milk tea could lead to the formation of kidney stones.

Kidney stones are formed when minerals in the urine crystallise, creating hard stones that can range in size from a grain of sand to a ping-pong ball. These stones can block the urinary tract, causing severe pain and, in some cases, leading to kidney failure, said a Department of Health.

Several components in Thai milk tea can accelerate the development of kidney stones. Fructose, a type of sugar found in milk tea, is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, making the kidneys work harder and increasing the risk of stone formation. Additionally, some milk teas contain high levels of calcium due to their milk content. Excess calcium is excreted through urine and can crystallise, forming stones.

Another contributing factor is oxalate, a compound found in tea leaves. Oxalate can bind with calcium to form calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common type of kidney stones, reported KhaoSod.

To mitigate the risk, the Department of Health recommends several measures for milk tea lovers.

• Reducing sugar intake by ordering less sweet or sugar-free options is advised. Drinking plenty of water can help dilute the urine and reduce mineral crystallisation.
• Opting for low-fat milk, skimmed milk, or soy milk can also lower calcium intake.
• Consuming potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, such as bananas and tomatoes, can further decrease the likelihood of stone formation.

On 8/6/2024 at 4:42 AM, reader said:

From The Thaiger

The Thai Department of Health issued a health warning to avid Thai milk tea drinkers about the risk of developing kidney stones due to the high sugar, calcium content, and compounds found in tea leaves...

Where the Hell did the Thai Department of Health come up with the idea that high calcium intake increases the risk of stones?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708574/

"...There is level 1 evidence that dietary calcium intake is a protective factor against stone formation...". 

There is an association between high sugar intake and kidney stones, although there are plenty of confounding variables, so one can definitely not assume causation.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/study-links-a-sugar-heavy-diet-to-a-higher-risk-of-kidney-stones

"...The possible connection? Other research has shown that sugar increases the amount of calcium in urine, and that excess [urinary] calcium can increase the risk of stone formation. Also, added sugars can lead to weight gain, which is associated with high blood pressure, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes — all of which are considered risk factors for kidney stones, according to the researchers...". 

Even if it ends up being the case (which we don't know) that high sugar intake increases the risk of some kidney stones, that should only be of concern for someone who's had kidney stones (and I'd add that not all kidney stones have calcium, although certainly more than half do).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5817324/

There are plenty of reasons to avoid added sugar in one's diet. Kidney stones, if it ends up being the case that sugar is an independent risk factor, would constitute a relatively minor concern (as opposed to obesity, diabetes, and other more common health concerns).