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A cross-sectional study of the association between plant-based diet indices and kidney stones among Iranian adults

Summary

A study of nearly 10,000 Iranian adults found that people who followed a plant-based diet had a higher risk of developing kidney stones. However, the quality of plant-based eating did not matter—neither healthful nor unhealthful plant-based diets changed the risk significantly. This suggests that while plant-based diets are generally healthy, people at risk for kidney stones should ensure adequate calcium intake and proper hydration.

Background

Kidney stones are a common and increasing medical condition with prevalence rates of 11-17.6% in various populations. Nutritional factors play a key role in kidney stone development, but limited research exists on plant-based diet indices in Middle Eastern populations.

Objective

To investigate the association between plant-based diet indices (PDI, hPDI, and uPDI) and kidney stone risk in a large group of Iranian adults with distinct dietary patterns.

Results

Approximately 16.4% of participants had kidney stones. Higher PDI scores were significantly associated with increased kidney stone risk (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01-1.37). However, healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI) showed no significant associations after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusion

Higher adherence to a plant-based diet index was positively associated with kidney stone risk, while healthful and unhealthful plant-based diet indices showed no significant association. Further prospective studies with detailed biochemical analyses are needed to establish causality.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Cross-sectional Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40251384, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-98370-9
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