title: Dietary habits in women with recurrent idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutrition has been widely recognized to influence the risk of kidney stone formation. Therefore the aim of our study was to assess: a) whether usual diet of women with idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis (ICN) living in Parma (Northern-Italy) is different compared to healthy controls, b) how their diet differs from Italian National guidelines and c) whether it is related to nephrolithiasis clinical course.
  
  
  METHODS
  143 women with recurrent ICN (mean age 43 ± 13 ys) and 170 healthy women (mean age 42 ± 11 ys) were enrolled. All women completed a food frequency questionnaire for the last 60-days and a 3-day dietary diary analysed with a dedicated software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stone formers showed a higher consumption of sausages, ham, meat and sweets than healthy controls (43.1% vs 11.1%, 29.4% vs 13.9%, 21.6% vs 4.2%, 66.7% vs 18.1%, p < 0.001). The 3-day diary analysis showed an intake of calories, carbohydrates, lipids and non-discretionary sodium about 10% higher than healthy controls (p < 0.001). Finally, after dividing the population into 3 age groups (≤30, 31-40, > 40 years), the differences described above were amplified in the class ≤30 years, where nephrolithiasis presented a more serious course (shorter recurrence interval, greater stone-rate). In this age group the intake of fruit and vegetables was notably lower than guideline recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the usual diet of women with recurrent ICN is different from controls and characterized by low intake of fruits and vegetables and higher consumption of simple sugars and foods with high protein and salt content. This dietary imbalance could play a role in the ICN pathogenesis, especially in younger women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Parma, Via A. Gramsci 14, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meschi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nouvenne
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ticinesi
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Allegri
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pigna
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soldati
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vezzoli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambaro
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauretani
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002118:Calcium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium