The doctor named the correct amount of drink for the prevention of kidney stones

M.D., Professor Mikhail Koryakin told how much water you need to drink with kidney stones.

In conversation with aif.ru On Wednesday, May 6, he noted that for the prevention of urolithiasis, it is usually recommended to drink 2-2.5 liters of liquid per day to ensure the same volume of urine. However, the results of a major PUSH study published in The Lancet in 2026 showed that increasing fluid intake alone is not enough — an integrated approach is important.

The study involved 1,658 people with a history of kidney stones. One group was offered an extended program with fluid intake control, specialist support, and additional motivation, while the second group was limited to standard recommendations. Despite the fact that the first group actually drank more, the frequency of re—formation of stones in two years was almost the same - about 18-20% in both groups.

Scientists have concluded that in order to prevent relapses, it is necessary to combine sufficient fluid intake with diet, lifestyle changes and, if necessary, drug therapy. In this case, we are talking not only about water, but about the entire liquid as a whole: tea, soups and other drinks can be included in the calculation. Separate studies show that coffee, tea, and even wine may be associated with a reduction in risk, while sugary carbonated drinks, on the contrary, increase it.

In the PUSH study, the key indicator was not the amount of liquid consumed, but the volume of urine — at least 2.5 liters per day. It is he who is considered the main factor of prevention. At the same time, not only the quantity, but also the quality of drinks is important: preference should be given to water, you can add unsweetened tea and coffee, as well as homemade lemonade. Sugary carbonated drinks and juices, on the contrary, increase the risk of stone formation.

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In April, urologist-oncologist Vigen Malkhasyan said that dehydration due to beer affects the formation of kidney stones. In addition, brewer's yeast contains a large amount of purines, the website writes kp.ru . These substances increase the level of uric acid, which makes it absolutely unacceptable for patients with urolithiasis.

In March, Marina Amitova, a nephrologist, warned in an interview with Moskva 24 about the risks of uncontrolled intake of dietary supplements and an addiction to protein diets for kidney health. In particular, vitamin C in large quantities can lead to the formation of stones. The nephrologist urged particular caution to adherents of protein diets, writes RT.

Also in March, urologist Ratmir Zhilov said that kidney diseases are often disguised as other ailments, so their symptoms go unnoticed for a long time or are mistaken for signs of other health problems. In particular, one of the signs of urolithiasis is a pulling or aching pain in the lower back, notes 360.ru .

At the same time, therapist Zarema Ten warned about the risks of drinking alcohol-free beer. According to her, it contains up to 0.5% alcohol and can contribute to the formation of alcohol habits, as well as irritate the gastric mucosa and create additional stress on the kidneys, writes NSN.

In October, urologist Mikhail Toporov told Izvestia that minimally invasive methods are used to treat kidney stones. Conservative therapy may not give results, and the stone will continue to grow, which will lead to a deterioration of the condition.

Earlier Pravda.Ru She wrote that lemons, limes, grapefruits and tangerines can stop the process of kidney stone formation. So, they are a natural source of citric acid, which increases the acidity of urine, preventing crystals from collecting into stones, binds calcium, reducing the risk of oxalate formation, and also acts prophylactically with one glass of lemon water in the morning.