Dietary effects upon calcium oxalate urolithiasis risk.

An animal model involving rats fed with different diets (high protein, high carbohydrate, high lipid, high fiber and control balanced diet) was used to evaluate the dietary effects on the main oxalocalcic urolithogenic parameters. It was found that the inhibitory factors that prevent calcium oxalate stone formation (citrate and magnesium) were clearly more favorable in the group of rats fed with a balanced diet. However, factors favouring the heterogeneous calcium phosphate nucleation were also found in the balanced diet. On the other hand, factors facilitating the heterogeneous uric acid nucleation were found in rats treated with high protein, high lipid, high carbohydrate and high fiber diets. In conclusion it seems that the balanced diet appears to be the less lithogenic one.