Patient Perceptions of Dietary Supplement Use and Kidney Stone Disease.

Our assessment

This study, published in a 2026 journal, surveyed patients who were visiting a clinic for kidney stone management. The researchers used a standardized survey to investigate patient knowledge and use of specific dietary supplements, including apple cider vinegar (ACV), turmeric, and cranberry extract. The abstract does not provide the number of participants or the duration of the study, so data on sample size and study length are not available. What this means for you: This research focuses on understanding what people who already have kidney stones think about supplements, rather than testing whether these supplements actually prevent or treat stones.

How it works

The study aimed to understand patient perceptions about dietary supplements and their role in managing kidney stones. The researchers specifically asked about the knowledge and use of apple cider vinegar, turmeric, and cranberry extract among patients being treated for kidney stones. The full findings of the survey are not provided in the available data. What this means for you: This research is about gathering patient opinions and habits, not about proving that any supplement is effective for kidney stone management.

Safety profile

Data not available. The provided abstract does not include any information on side effects or adverse events related to apple cider vinegar, turmeric, or cranberry extract. No FDA adverse event report data was provided for these supplements in this study.

Our recommendation

Because this study only reports on patient perceptions and does not test the effectiveness or safety of these supplements for kidney stones, no recommendation can be made based on this research alone. If you have kidney stones, speak with your doctor before starting any dietary supplement, as some supplements may affect your condition or interact with treatments. Always rely on medical advice from your healthcare provider rather than general perceptions FDA FAERS ↗.

AI-assisted analysis. Data sourced from PubMed.

Abstract

Background/objectives

There is a seemingly high prevalence of dietary supplement use in the kidney stone population. We aimed to understand patients' perceptions of dietary supplements and their role in the management of kidney stones.

Methods

We performed a standardized survey of patients presenting for management of kidney stones. We investigated the knowledge and use of apple cider vinegar (ACV), turmeric, and cranberry extract, as well as opinions on the safety of dietary supp

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