Diet to reduce mild hyperoxaluria in patients with idiopathic calcium oxalate stone formation: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether a normal-calcium, low-animal protein, low-salt diet is effective in reducing hyperoxaluria in idiopathic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis compared with a traditional low-oxalate diet, routinely recommended by clinicians


METHODS
We treated 56 patients with idiopathic calcium oxalate stone formation who presented with mild hyperoxaluria (>40 mg/d) while consuming a free diet with a normal-calcium, low-animal protein, low-salt diet for a 3-month period. We compared the results obtained with this diet with those of a historical control group of 20 hyperoxaluric patients treated in the traditional way with a low-oxalate diet


RESULTS
After 3 months of therapy, the mean oxaluria level had decreased from 50.2 to 35.5 mg/d with the normal-calcium, low-animal protein, low-salt diet and from 45.9 to 40.2 mg/d with the traditional diet (adjusted difference between post-treatment mean value -7.3 mg/d, 95% confidence interval -12.3 to -2.2, P = .005)


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a normal-calcium, low-animal protein, low-salt diet can reduce oxalate excretion in hyperoxaluric patients. This should encourage the undertaking of a randomized-control study to confer more solid evidence in support of our findings.
Nouvenne
Antonio
A
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. antonio.nouvenne@alice.it
Meschi
Tiziana
T
Guerra
Angela
A
Allegri
Franca
F
Prati
Beatrice
B
Fiaccadori
Enrico
E
Maggiore
Umberto
U
Borghi
Loris
L
D000328:Adult; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006959:Hyperoxaluria / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D002129:Calcium Oxalate