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DASH Diet - Practical Diet Plan to Prevent Recurrent Kidney Stone Risk

by Thilaka Ravi on Mar 6 2014 12:56 PM
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Popularly known as the DASH diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) could be an effective alternative to the usually recommended low-oxalate diet for reducing the risk of kidney stone recurrence, reveals research published in the March issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

A low-oxalate diet is often prescribed for prevention and treatment of kidney stones. But findings from a small randomized controlled trial showed that a DASH diet, typically recommended to lower blood pressure, is more effective as it reduced urinary risk markers for calcium oxalate kidney stone formation.

A research team led by Dr. Nazanin Noori MD, PhD from the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Teheran, Iran, observed the dietary interventions of 41 recurrent stone formers with hyperauxaluria for eight weeks. Changes in the urinary calcium oxalate supersaturation and 24 hour urinary composition were assessed in the trial.

The study involved 57 participants, recurrent stone formers with hyperauxaluria, of which the intervention group were given a DASH style diet, while the control group followed a low-oxalate diet. 29 participants were randomly assigned to DASH group, and 28 participants to the low-oxalate group. Of the 41 participants who completed the trial, 21 were in the DASH group and 20 in the low-oxalate group.

Findings from the trial showed a trend for increased oxalate excretion in patients who took the DASH diet as against those who followed the low-oxalate diet. The researchers conclude that “the DASH diet might be an effective alternative to the low-oxalate diet in reducing calcium oxalate supersaturation and should be studied more.”

The DASH diet plan is high in nutrients and includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, low fat dairy products, some fish and poultry. Red meat, sweets and fats are also included, but in small amounts. The DASH diet meets with the dietary guidelines of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is widely recommended to prevent and control hypertension or high blood pressure. This healthy eating plan follows heart healthy guidelines to limit cholesterol and saturated fat and can prevent osteoporosis, cancer, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

Dr. Noori observes, “Most people do not eat single, isolated nutrients such as oxalate, but rather meals consisting of a variety of foods. So, a practical diet plan for kidney stone prevention should be based on the cumulative effects of foods and the impact overall dietary patterns have on risk for stone formation rather than single nutrients.”

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References:

1. American Journal of Kidney Diseases

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2. http://www.ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386%2813%2901567-9/abstract

3. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf

Source-Medindia


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