Dietary Factors

Abstract

Inappropriate dietary habits and overweight are suggested to promote the worldwide increasing incidence and prevalence of urolithiasis. Nutrition plays an important role in urinary stone formation, especially in calcium oxalate, uric acid, calcium phosphate, and cystine urolithiasis. Specific dietary factors can alter urinary composition and supersaturation, which can affect the process of crystallization and stone formation. Adequate dietary treatment can contribute to an effective prevention or reduction of stone recurrences and decrease the burden of invasive measures in patients with recurrent stone disease. The current knowledge of the impact of dietary factors on the risk of stone formation is presented.