[What water is recommended for the primary and secondary prevention of urolithiasis?]

Abstract

The literature review dedicated to a problem of using various types of water for the primary and secondary prevention of urolithiasis is presented. According to the one of the oldest hypotheses, water with different characteristics may contribute to urinary stone formation. The role of hard or soft water in the development of kidney stones is still controversial. Currently, it can be convincingly stated that there is no association between water hardness and the occurrence of urolithiasis. The hardness of drinking water is not a major factor contributing to the urinary stone disease, and this situation is confirmed by many domestic and foreign studies. Understanding the importance of the various electrolytes contained in water is critical to providing patients with an effective non-drug solution for the prevention of recurrent urolithiasis. When characterizing water, it is necessary to consider the level of calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. Education in the use of various drinks, primarily tap, bottled, and mineral water, can and should serve as a therapeutic strategy for preventing and reducing the risk of urinary stones.