The Influence of Diet on the Formation of Uric Acid Kidney Stones in Filipino Patients

Abstract

The focus of this investigation is to determine the extent to which diet attributes to the occurrence of uric acid stones in patients of Filipino descent and if the alteration of diet can prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of uric acid stones. It has been observed that the Filipino diet is high in fat (primarily from animal fats) and sodium. Since meats high in fat contain a large amount of purines, there is great probability that their diet is a major factor in the extreme occurrence of uric acid stone found in Filipino patients, more so than any other type of stone. We propose to evaluate the diets of Filipino patients, who have had an occurance of urolithiasis, through a dietary questionnaire that covers a one week time span of specific uric acid prone foods popular in a Filipino diet. We will compare these patients' diets to that of non-Filipinos with urolithiasis.