The Low Oxalate Diet
A low-oxalate diet is often prescribed for people who have increased levels of oxalic acid in their urine or who have a history of forming kidney stones. A treatment program including a low-oxalate diet and plenty of fluids reduces the risk of stone formation. Approximately 1 in every 1,000 adults is hospitalized annually in the United States for kidney stones (renal calculi). Although kidney stones can be composed of different substances, more than 75% of the kidney stones in patients in the United States are made of calcium oxalate. A hereditary condition can increase the risk of forming calcium oxalate stones. Intestinal resection, parathyroidism, and other more rare conditions also may cause renal calculi, and dietary factors can increase or reduce the risk of forming kidney stones.
