The Journal of Urology reports that other options offer a higher alkali content for increasing pH levels.
A recent study published in The Journal of Urology, suggests that bottled water labeled as “alkaline water” may not be a viable option for preventing recurring urinary stones.
“While alkaline water products have a higher pH than regular water, they have a negligible alkali content – which suggests that they can’t raise urine pH enough to affect the development of kidney and other urinary stones,” comments senior author Roshan M. Patel, MD, of University of California, Irvine.
Alkaline water as an alternative to prescription drugs for stone prevention?
Alkaline water, sometimes called high-pH water, is an increasingly popular category of bottled water. Compared to tap water, with a typical pH of around 7.5, alkaline water is manufactured to have a higher (more alkaline) pH – in the range of 8 to 10.
Consumption and sales of alkaline water have increased sharply in recent years. Proponents claim various health benefits, including improved hydration and increased urinary pH. Raising pH is a key strategy to prevent the formation of certain types of urinary stones (uric DOI: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003767