Dietary risk factors for urinary stones in children

As the incidence of urinary stone disease in children is increasing, identifying dietary risk factors becomes vitally important, especially in the context of targeting interventions to reduce risk for stone formation. Indiscriminant dietary restrictions are not appropriate for paediatric patients.

Although large, prospective studies are still needed to better quantify dietary risk factors for paediatric stone formers, a number of smaller studies provide data to identify common risk factors to help prevent stone formation, while minimizing inappropriate dietary restrictions.

Interpretation of 24-h urine samples to identify individualized dietary risk factors is crucial for implementing a strategy for prevention of further urinary stone formation in children. Clinicians should avoid generalized dietary restrictions in stone-forming children uninformed by laboratory data.