Diet Restrictions
Cut Kidney Stone Recurrence 49%
A low-salt, low-animal protein diet and increased water consumption
reduced the recurrence of calcium oxalate stones in men with idiopathic
hypercalciuria. After 5 years on this diet, men with a history
of renal stones had a 49% lower risk of recurrence compared to
men on a low-calcium diet with high-water consumption. Oxalate
excretion was decreased in men on a low-salt, low-animal protein,
normal calcium diet had a decreased in oxalate excretion and increased
in men on a low-calcium diet.
Both diets were associated with
drops in calcium excretion, calcium oxalate production, and relative
calcium oxalate saturation. The low-protein, low-salt, normal-calcium
diet had a greater reduction in calcium oxalate product and relative
calcium oxalate saturation.
The low-calcium diets required the
men to avoid oxalate-rich foods, such as walnuts, parsley, spinach,
rhubarb, and chocolate, which had the effect of limiting calcium
intake to 10 mmol/day. The stone recurrence-reducing diet required
a limit to the consumption of protein, especially from animal
sources, salt, and oxalate-rich foods, while maintaining a normal
to high intake of calcium and consuming 2-3 L of water per day. (Jeff Evans, Senior Writer.
Internal Medicine News. April 1, 2002)
