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Lowering urinary oxalate excretion to decrease calcium oxalate stone disease

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Abstract

Dietary modifications should be considered as a first line approach in the treatment of idiopathic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. The amounts of oxalate and calcium consumed in the diet are significant factors in the development of the disease due to their impact on urinary oxalate excretion. There are a number of strategies that can be employed to reduce oxalate excretion. The consumption of oxalate-rich foods should be avoided and calcium intake adjusted to 1000–1200 mg/day. To encourage compliance it should be emphasized to patients that they be vigilant with this diet as a deviation in any meal or snack could potentially result in significant stone growth. The evidence underlying these two modifications is outlined and other strategies to reduce urinary oxalate excretion are reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Ross P. Holmes, John Knight & Dean G. Assimos

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  1. Ross P. Holmes
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  2. John Knight
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  3. Dean G. Assimos
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Correspondence to Ross P. Holmes.

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Funding

This work was supported by NIH grants DK62284, DK73732 and DK87967.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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All studies conducted by the investigators involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Review Boards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants in studies conducted by the investigators.

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Holmes, R.P., Knight, J. & Assimos, D.G. Lowering urinary oxalate excretion to decrease calcium oxalate stone disease. Urolithiasis 44, 27–32 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-015-0839-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-015-0839-4

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