Clinical Effects of Prophylactic Dietary Treatment of Renal Stone Disease in Japan

Abstract

The incidence of renal stone disease in Japan has increased steadily since the latter half of this century, and the number of renal stone formers in Japan is now about three times what it was before World War II (1). After the War, Japan experienced rapid economic and nutritional changes, and the nutritional status in the Japanese people changed to nearly reach the levels of those found in Europe and North America. Such developments have probably contributed to the increased incidence of renal stone disease. Diet is important in the prophylaxis of renal stones, especially for the dietary hypercalciuric patients. We have treated over 300 such patients using dietary guidance. The purpose of this study was to clarify the dietary habits and consumption of various nutrients by male stone formers, and to evaluate the clinical effect of prophylactic dietary treatment of renal stones.