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DASH Diet. The same diet that is recommended to control blood pressure might also reduce the risk of kidney stones. The DASH diet, which is high in fruits and vegetables and low in animal protein, appears to reduce the incidence of kidney stones by as much as 40 - 50%.
Role of Calcium
Calcium from Foods. Dietary calcium recommendations for kidney stone prevention need to be determined on an individual basis. A doctor will suggest calcium guidelines based on a patient's age, gender, body size, and type of stone. General recommendations for daily dietary calcium intake are: 1,300 mg of elemental calcium for teenagers, 1,000 mg for men and women ages 19 - 50 years, and 1,200 mg after age 50. Most studies indicate that people who eat the recommended amount of dietary calcium (found in milk, yogurt, and cheese) have a lower chance of stone recurrence than those who eat a low-calcium diet. Therefore, a diet containing a normal amount of calcium, but reduced amounts of animal protein and salt may protect against stones better than a low-calcium regimen.
Calcium Restriction in Certain Cases. Some patients, such as those whose stones are caused by genetic defects in which the intestine absorbs too much calcium, may need to limit calcium intake. More studies are needed to define this group precisely.
Fiber-Rich Foods and Their Compounds
Fiber may be beneficial for people with kidney stones. In addition, some fiber-rich foods may contain compounds that help protect against kidney stones. A wide variety of high-fiber plant foods contain a compound called phytate (also called inositol hexaphosphate, InsP6, or IP6), which appears to help prevent the crystallization of calcium salts, both oxalate and phosphate. Phytate is found in legumes and wheat and rice bran. (Soybeans are also rich in phytate, but they are also very high in oxalates, so the overall effects of soy on kidney stones are not clear.)
Purine Restriction in People at Risk for Uric Acid Stones
A high intake of purines can increase the amount of uric acid in the urine. Those at risk for uric acid stones should reduce their intake of foods and beverages that contain purines.
Some diet and lifestyle changes that may help prevent uric acid stones:
- Avoid alcohol, anchovies, sardines, oils, herring, organ meat (liver, kidney, and sweetbreads), legumes (dried beans and peas), gravies, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, and baking or brewer's yeast.
- Limit how much meat you eat at each meal.
- Avoid fatty foods such as salad dressings, ice cream, and fried foods
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Review Date: 06/08/2010
Reviewed By: Reviewed by: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor
of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts
General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
