Diet and alternative therapies in the management of stone disease.

Although nonnutritional factors affect the risk for renal stone development, nutrition is widely viewed as contributory and is frequently included as part of the therapeutic regimen in secondary stone prevention. In this article, the therapeutic application of nutritional recommendations to address specific risk factors of urolithiasis is reviewed. The article focuses on calcium-containing and uric acid stones. The general approach to nutrition therapy is addressed first, and empiric and tailored approaches are discussed. How to assess a patient's nutrition risk for lithogenesis is reviewed, and the implementation or practice of nutrition therapy is discussed.