New study sheds light on connection between microbiome and kidney stones

Kait Al is the lead author on the study and postdoctoral research fellow at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Lawson Health Research Institute) A new study from Western University and Lawson Health Research Institute published in the journal Microbiome has found changes in the microbiome in multiple locations in the body are linked to the formation of kidney stones. The human microbiome comprises trillions of microorganisms, including healthy bacteria. In recent years, research has begun to uncover its role in health and numerous diseases. The research team examined the gut, urinary and salivary microbiomes in 83 patients who had kidney stones and compared them to 30 healthy controls. They found changes in all three microbiomes were linked to kidney stone formation. Jeremy Burton, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor and Lawson scientist "Kidney stone disease has been rising in recent years, affecting roughly 10 per cent of people," said Jeremy Burton, a Lawson scientist, professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and research chair of human microbiome and probiotics at St. Joseph's Health Care London. "While previous research has shown a connection between the gut microbiome and kidney stones in those who have taken antibiotics, we also wanted to explore the connection to other microbiomes in the hopes we can advance understanding and potential treatments." Study participants included people who had formed kidney stones, had not had antibiotic exposure in the last 90 days and were having the stones removed surgically at St. Joseph's.