Dietary habits in renal stone patients compared with healthy subjects

The dietary habits of renal calcium stone patients were investigated both by dietary history and by 4-day food records and compared with the dietary habits of control subjects, matched on the basis of age, sex, social and professional status. The method using 4-day records seemed to be more precise, judged by the correlation to the urinary output of nutrients. There was no difference in the daily intake of major nutrients between stone formers and controls, but a higher ingestion of vitamin C in controls and a larger consumption of alcohol among stone formers. In contrast to some epidemiological evidence, there were no significant differences in consumption of animal protein when stone formers were matched for social class. Despite a similar total intake of calcium, the stone formers excreted more calcium in the urine, probably reflecting a higher intestinal absorption of calcium. There seem to be only marginally different dietary habits between stone formers and carefully matched control subjects. Differences in the urinary output of minerals and electrolytes are mainly due to variations in gastrointestinal uptake.