The claimEvidence A · guideline-tier
Low-calcium diet prevents kidney stones
The evidence
Curhan 1993 NEJM: low-calcium diets actually raise oxalate stone risk by leaving more free oxalate in the gut.
The mechanism, in brief
Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is one of the most common urological emergencies. Chinese prevalence ~ 5-7%, substantially higher in hot, humid southern regions (Guangdong / Fujian).
Sources (1)
- Worcester, E. M., & Coe, F. L. (2010). Calcium kidney stones. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(10), 954-963.