Insulin resistance increases the risk of which type of kidney stones?

Insulin resistance is closely associated with metabolic conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This condition affects various pathways in the body, including those related to glucose metabolism and fat storage. One of the metabolic consequences of insulin resistance is the alteration of purine metabolism, which can lead to increased levels of uric acid in the blood.

Uric acid stones develop when there is excessive uric acid in the urine, often due to high concentrations in the serum. Conditions that cause insulin resistance can elevate uric acid levels because they promote increased purine catabolism and decreased renal excretion of uric acid. Elevated serum uric acid can lead to supersaturation of uric acid in the urine, creating an environment conducive to the formation of uric acid stones.

While calcium oxalate stones are the most common type of kidney stones overall, they are primarily influenced by factors such as dietary oxalate, calcium levels, and urine volume rather than directly by insulin resistance. Struvite stones are typically associated with urinary tract infections, and cystine stones are related to a genetic disorder affecting amino acid transport. Therefore, the link between insulin resistance and elevated uric acid levels confirms that uric acid stones are the type of kidney stones primarily influenced by insulin