Adherence to Mediterranean Diet, Dietary Salt Intake, and Susceptibility to Nephrolithiasis: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Nutritional Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Unhealthy dietary habits are implicated in the development of nephrolithiasis (NL).
• Assessing adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and salt intake is crucial for understanding NL pathogenesis.
• Previous research indicates a potential link between diet and kidney stone formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and dietary salt intake in patients with kidney stones (SF).
• To examine the relationship between MD adherence, salt intake, and NL-related metabolic risk factors in SF.
• To determine the impact of combined high MD adherence and low salt intake on nephrolithiasis (NL) susceptibility.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study comparing stone-forming patients (SF) with non-stone-forming controls (NSF).
• Participants were interviewed using validated MEDI-LITE and MINISAL questionnaires for diet assessment.
• Metabolic risk factors for NL were evaluated in a subgroup of SF.

Main Results:

• Stone-forming patients (SF) exhibited lower Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence and higher salt intake compared to controls (NSF).
• Increased MD adherence (MEDI-LITE score) was associated with a 36% decrease in NL susceptibility.
• Increased salt intake (MINISAL score) was linked to a 13% increase in NL susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• High adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and low dietary salt intake are independently associated with reduced nephrolithiasis (NL) susceptibility.
• The combination of high MD adherence and low salt intake offers a synergistic protective effect against kidney stone formation.
• Dietary interventions focusing on MD principles and reduced salt consumption may be beneficial for preventing NL.