Diet Can Alter Risk of Kidney Stones
(HealthDayNews, 11/17/03)

Dr. Gary Curhan of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and team, analyzed data collected from the Nurses' Health Study II, which included more than 100,000 women. The researchers focused on the dietary surveys completed by 96,000 of the subjects, aged 27 to 44 when the study began, noting that 1,223 of these participants developed kidney stones during the 8 year study. The investigators found that calcium and protein intake did not increase the risk of developing stones. In fact, subjects with diets that were highest in calcium had a decreased risk of stone formation. In addition, eating foods rich in phytates (which are found in whole grains and vegetables) and drinking more fluids also lowered kidney stone risk; whereas, high sugar consumption increased the risk of developing stones by about 30%.