Replacing refined grains with whole grains in our diet may slash our risk of not only developing nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) but also being admitted in the hospital for the disease.
This study clarified the correlation between the consumption of refined and whole grains and the likelihood of being diagnosed and hospitalized for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). With the aid of validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers collated and analyzed the diets of 666 Chinese men and women. Nephrolithiasis diagnosis and hospitalization rates in the study population were obtained from hospital records.
Researchers identified a trend towards reduce incidence of hospitalizations for nephrolithiasis among habitual consumers of whole grains. In contrast, the number of hospitalizations for kidney stones went up among participants with high intake of refined grains. "Therefore, a substitution of whole grains for refined grains consumption may assist in hospitalized nephrolithiasis prevention," the authors concluded.