Diet plays an important role in the pathogenesis of kidney stones as dietary ingredients and fluid intake influence the volume, pH and solute concentration of urine. however, it frequently is ignored in the management and treatment and more emphasis given only on fluid intake and removal of stones. The objective of this study to evaluate the effect on urine chemistry before and after dietary modification in patients with urolithiasis. Urine specimens were collected from 100 normal individuals and 100 kidney stone patients and analysed spectrophotometrically for common stone promoters like oxalate, calcium, uric acid , sodium and phosphate and stone inhibitors like potassium citrate and magnesium before and after dietary modification. To assess the subject’s diet we used a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The results were presented as mean ± SD, student’s t test was used for statistical analysis. Urinary Constituents like oxalate, calcium, uric acid and sodium concentration & specific gravity were persistently higher before dietary modification. Urinary citrate and magnesium levels were significantly low in stone formers as compared to normal individuals . But no difference was found in phosphate, Creatinine and potassium excretion.After dietary modification urinary Oxalate, calcium , uric acid & specific gravity significantly declined where as Urinary inhibitor citrate, magnesium rose significantly. Urinary sodium declined and urinary potassium raised when compared with earlier values ,but difference was not statistically significant. Our study shows that certain dietary modifications can limit the risk for stone formation. Restricting sodium, oxalate and animal-protein consumption produces changes in the urinary environment and that should benefit the majority of stone formers, including a decrease in calcium and increase in citrate , Magnesium excretion. To prevent recurrence, dietary modifications along with high fluid intake achieving a urine volume of 2 liters per day should be advised in the long term.
