PORTLAND, Maine, Aug 14, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers say a
healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables helps prevent kidney stones.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, finds
those who eat healthy foods recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension diet may effectively ward off kidney stones. The DASH diet limits
salt, red or processed meats and sweetened beverages, but has lots of fruits,
vegetables, nuts, low-fat dairy products and whole grains.
Researchers at the Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, led by Dr. Eric Taylor
of Maine Medical Center in Portland, scored the diets of 45,821 men enrolled in
the Health Professionals Follow-up Study; 94,108 older women the Nurses' Health
Study I; and 101,837 younger women of the Nurses' Health Study II. A total of
5,645 incident kidney stones developed in the participants.
Participants with the highest DASH scores were 40 percent to 45 percent less
likely to develop kidney stones than participants with the lowest DASH scores.
The reductions in kidney stone risk were independent of age, body size, fluid
intake and other factors.
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