DIETARY MODIFICATION AND ADEQUATE HYDRATION IN THE PREVENTION OF RECURRENT KIDNEY STONES

Relevance of the study. Preventing another stone episode is an essential component of care after stone passage or removal. Dietary and fluid-related factors are modifiable, making them important targets for long-term management. Current guidelines emphasize adequate urine output and individualized nutritional advice rather than indiscriminate food restriction. A concise synthesis of the supporting evidence is relevant to clinical practice because preventive counseling must connect measurable goals with patients’ everyday habits. Aim of the study. To summarize evidence on the contribution of hydration and dietary modification to the prevention of recurrent kidney stones in adults. Materials and methods. A narrative review was based on an international clinical guideline, two randomized trials, and a prospective observational study selected for direct relevance to fluid intake, dietary factors, and stone recurrence. Study populations, interventions or exposures, and clinical outcomes were compared descriptively. Results. In a five-year randomized trial involving 199 patients after a first episode of idiopathic calcium stone disease, recurrence occurred in 12 of 99 participants advised to increase water intake and in 27 of 100 controls (p = 0.008). The mean interval to recurrence was 38.7 versus 25.1 months, respectively. These findings support sustained hydration as a preventive measure, although individual benefit depends on baseline risk and adherence