According to the latest studies and research conducted in the field of kidney stones, it has been discovered that contrary to popular belief, calcium oxalate stone formation is not accelerated or facilitated by calcium intake through food or dairy products. For years doctors have been directing their kidney stone patients to avoid or decrease their intake of calcium rich dairy products and increase the intake of fluids to dilute the urine.

Recent research has in fact led doctors to advice their patients to increase their intake of Dairy products, which are our main source of calcium. Secondly, Calcium supplements, that were earlier thought to be beneficial and unrelated to kidney stone formation, have been found to increase the risk of developing kidney stones.

This study, conducted on 92,371 nurses, aged 34 to 59, revealed that out of all 864 developed kidney stones.

Women taking dietary calcium through food products were found to be 65% less likely to develop kidney stones as compared to women who consumed the least amount of dietary calcium. On the other hand, nurses who took calcium supplements were found to be at a 20% greater risk of developing kidney stones than women who didn’t. This may be so because taking calcium supplements adds too much calcium to the urine. Besides, some component or property of dairy products may help prevent or at least reduce the risk of kidney stone formation.

Doctors advice all people with a family history of Kidney stones to drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration, which may be a major cause for kidney stone formation. Doctors are also prescribing thiazide diuretics to prevent calcium oxalate stones. There is also evidence that a diet high n salt, meat or sugar may increase the risk for stone formation.

Researchers say that women should not necessarily give up taking calcium supplements. Such a decision should be taken only at the advice of your doctor. Women may develop several other health problems due to lack of enough calcium which makes these supplements necessary. These supplements should however be taken with lunch or dinner instead of breakfast. Avoid low-calcium diets and it will definitely help prevent calcium stones from forming