Kidney Stones Diet: Preventing Kidney Stones from Forming
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
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A kidney stones diet can play a role in stopping stone formation. Other factors, such as family history, environment, fluid intake, and weight may also play a part in the formation of stones.
Normally, the body uses food for energy and also tissue repair. Once the body has used what it needs, waste products are carried to the kidneys to be excreted in the form of urine. Certain foods in the diet, however, create wastes that may form crystals in the urinary tract. These crystals can grow into stones in some people.
For people who have had a kidney stone, preventing the formation of another is a top priority. In addition to dietary changes by following a strict kidney stone diet, medications may also be needed to prevent formation. Learning about what kind of stones a person’s body typically makes is the first step in preventing kidney stone formation.
Types of Stones
The type of stones formed can be different from person to person. Types of kidney stones include the following:
Calcium oxalate stones. This is the most common type. They usually form when the urine becomes too acidic, which means it has low pH. The body produces some of the oxalate found in urine. Calcium and oxalate obtained in the diet may play a role but are not the only factors that affect formation of calcium oxalate stones. Oxalate is found in many vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Calcium from bone may also play a role in stone formation.
Calcium phosphate stones. These stones are considered less common. Calcium phosphate stones are more likely to occur when the urine has high pH, meaning it is alkaline.
Uric acid stones tend to form when the urine is persistently acidic. Uric acid stones may result from a diet high in animal protein and purines. Purines are substances found naturally in all food but especially in organ meats, fish, and shellfish.
Struvite stones form as a result of infection in the kidey. Diet has not been shown to affect the formation of struvite stones. Preventing struvite stones depends on staying infection free.
Cystine stones. This type of kidney stone results from a rare genetic disorder that causes cystine to leak through the kidneys and into the urine to form crystals. Cystine is an amino acid, which is one of the building blocks of protein.
Importance of knowing which type of stone a person has.
To determine why a certain patient is at risk of kidney stone formation, it greatly helps the doctor to know the chemical composition of the stone. The kind of stone typically a person’ body makes determines what dietary changes may be necessary. For example, limiting oxalate in the diet may help prevent formation of calcium oxalate stones but will not help in preventing uric acid stones.
Some recommendations in kidney stone diet may apply to more than one type of stone. Most notably, drinking enough water helps prevent all kinds of kidney stones.
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This Page Last Revised: May 20, 2010
Normally, the body uses food for energy and also tissue repair. Once the body has used what it needs, waste products are carried to the kidneys to be excreted in the form of urine. Certain foods in the diet, however, create wastes that may form crystals in the urinary tract. These crystals can grow into stones in some people.
For people who have had a kidney stone, preventing the formation of another is a top priority. In addition to dietary changes by following a strict kidney stone diet, medications may also be needed to prevent formation. Learning about what kind of stones a person’s body typically makes is the first step in preventing kidney stone formation.
Types of Stones
The type of stones formed can be different from person to person. Types of kidney stones include the following:
Calcium oxalate stones. This is the most common type. They usually form when the urine becomes too acidic, which means it has low pH. The body produces some of the oxalate found in urine. Calcium and oxalate obtained in the diet may play a role but are not the only factors that affect formation of calcium oxalate stones. Oxalate is found in many vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Calcium from bone may also play a role in stone formation.
Calcium phosphate stones. These stones are considered less common. Calcium phosphate stones are more likely to occur when the urine has high pH, meaning it is alkaline.
Uric acid stones tend to form when the urine is persistently acidic. Uric acid stones may result from a diet high in animal protein and purines. Purines are substances found naturally in all food but especially in organ meats, fish, and shellfish.
Struvite stones form as a result of infection in the kidey. Diet has not been shown to affect the formation of struvite stones. Preventing struvite stones depends on staying infection free.
Cystine stones. This type of kidney stone results from a rare genetic disorder that causes cystine to leak through the kidneys and into the urine to form crystals. Cystine is an amino acid, which is one of the building blocks of protein.
Importance of knowing which type of stone a person has.
To determine why a certain patient is at risk of kidney stone formation, it greatly helps the doctor to know the chemical composition of the stone. The kind of stone typically a person’ body makes determines what dietary changes may be necessary. For example, limiting oxalate in the diet may help prevent formation of calcium oxalate stones but will not help in preventing uric acid stones.
Some recommendations in kidney stone diet may apply to more than one type of stone. Most notably, drinking enough water helps prevent all kinds of kidney stones.
[Top of Page]
This Page Last Revised: May 20, 2010
