Diet Lowers Relapse Rate of Kidney Stones

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Diet Lowers Relapse Rate of Kidney Stones

Idiopathic hypercalciuria, or the excretion of excessive amounts of urinary calcium for no known reason, is significantly linked to the formation of kidney stones, and if uncontrolled will likely cause stone recurrence.

Because most hypercalciuria patients absorb abnormal levels of dietary calcium, doctors have typically recommended a low-calcium diet to these individuals. Little data exist to support any long-term success of a low-calcium diet for preventing kidney stones, however, and this type of diet may lead to weakened bones.

To compare the efficacy of two different diets at preventing recurring kidney stones, the authors divided 120 men who had previously suffered from at least two kidney stones into two groups. One group followed a traditional low-calcium diet; the other group followed a diet involving regular calcium intake, but reduced amounts of animal protein and salt. The low-calcium group was instructed to avoid milk, cheese, and yogurt, while the other group followed a complex diet consisting of low-to-high calcium, low sodium, and low protein consumption, specifically from animal sources. Over five years, researchers at the University of Parma, Italy, followed the subjects' diets, urinary specimens (of sodium, urea, protein, and sulfate to determine compliance to diets), and cases of recurring stones.

Results: Men in the normal-calcium, low-protein, low-salt diet were 51% less likely to develop kidney stones than men following the traditional low-calcium diet. The subjects in the study appeared to have good-to-excellent dietary compliance.

A long-term diet of lowered sodium and animal protein and normal calcium levels may be more effective than a reduced-calcium diet at preventing recurring kidney stones, and may offer additional health benefits. The authors suggest that this diet is the most beneficial if started early in the course of idiopathic hypercalciuria.

Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. The New England Journal of Medicine 2002:346(2), pp. 77-84.