Kidney Stones - Other Treatments

(Page 3)

Low-Salt and Low-Protein Diets

In a long-term 2002 study of men with calcium oxalate stones and high levels of urinary calcium, a low-sodium, low-protein diet containing normal levels of calcium dramatically reduced the recurrence of stones compared to a diet that was simply low in calcium.

Salt Restriction. Because salt intake increases the amount of calcium in urine, patients with calcium stones should restrict their sodium intake. Sodium may also elevate levels of urate, the crystalline substance that can trigger formation of recurrent calcium oxalate stones. Although the relative contribution of sodium restriction in this and other studies has not been confirmed, some researchers believe that restricting sodium along with increasing fluid intake is the most important dietary measure for preventing stones.

Protein Restriction. Protein increases uric acid, calcium, and oxalates in the urine and reduces citrate. Diets high in protein, particularly meat protein, have been consistently associated with kidney stones. (Meat protein has a higher sulfur content and generates more acid than vegetable protein.) A 2002 trial of those following a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, popularized in such weight-loss regimens as the Atkins diet, for example, found dramatically increased levels of urinary uric acid and calcium after just several weeks. These effects put patients at higher risk not just of kidney stones but possibly of osteoporosis as well. According to Swiss studies, about a third of people at risk for calcium stones may have a sensitivity to meat proteins that cause mild hyperoxaluria.

Whether restricting meat protein alone has any protective value without restricting sodium as well is unknown. Most studies to date have found no difference in stone development between people with low and normal meat protein diets over four years. A 2000 study reported that only dramatic reductions in meat protein had any preventive effect against stone recurrence.

Although the precise role of dietary protein in kidney stones needs further elucidation, it is reasonable for everyone to consume meat protein in moderation. People with struvite stones, who need to reduce phosphates in their diets, should also cut down on proteins.