Assessment of Dietary Habits of Patients Having Kidney Stones

Objectives: This study seeks to outline association of daily intake of milk and milk products, leafy vegetables (withand without calcium supplements) and daily diet of a patient with kidney stones.Methods: A cross sectional study design was conducted and tested by filling a preformed questionnaire. A sample of75 patients was collected among admitted patients, visiting Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complexand Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtun khwa. The majority of patients 45 (60%) were diagnosed byUltrasonography compared to those diagnosed by X-ray kidney urethra bladder (X-ray KUB) which comprised 14(18.7%), while those who had undergone both modalities for diagnosis comprised [16 (21.8%)] of all the patientsinterviewed.Results: Of the total patient 50 (66.7%) were male, all in the age range of 15-70 years with a mean age of 39.89 (+14.50). No family history of kidney stones was noted in 49 (65.3%). 73 (97.3%) of the subjects eat 2-3 times a dayand 2 (2.7%) eat 4-5 times. Majority of the subjects had a low meat intake. 45 (60%) of the subjects consume meat0-2 times per week, 23 (30.7%) consume 3-5 times and 7 (9.3%). Consume meat 6-7 times. Majority of the subjectsmaximum intake of Milk is 46 (61.3%) consuming it 0-2 times per week, Leafy Vegetables are 55 (73.3%) with aconsumption rate of 0-2 times per week, Calcium Supplement 68 (90.7%) consumption is 0-3 times per week, andLegumes58 (77.3%) 0-2 times per week. It was found that the interviewed subjects had a low milk, dairy productsintake and vegetable intake, indicating a strong possibility of low calcium and fiber intake.Conclusion: The results of the dietary assessment recorded a diet which is associated with an increased risk ofnephron lithiasis. It was found that, the food intake of the people in KPK is not balanced, and a dietary habitawareness campaign is recommended to reduce stone formation. The majority of the subjects had a low intake ofmeat(animal protein), a low intake of food rich in fibers, low intake of milk products (rich in calcium) and a highnumber of meals per day.Keywords: Dietary habits, Kidney stones, Ultrasonography, X-Ray Kidney Ureter Bladder (X-Ray KUB).