Urine Test May ID Unhealthy Diets

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Sodium levels were not associated with any of those variables, the team found.

The study is published in the April 2009 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.

The Logan research is "an excellent study," said Judith Stern, a distinguished professor of nutrition at the University of California at Davis, who was not involved in the study but reviewed it. Consumers might ask their physician for the test to see if their diet is as healthy as they might think, she said.

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"This study supports the [medical] literature that the amount of potassium in urine may objectively measure diet quality," added Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo, a dietitian in Roseville, Calif., and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "However, the study looked at 24-hour urine collections, which are cumbersome, time-consuming and impractical for some patients," she said.

Moloo called for more research to further validate the findings.

Logan said his team can probably simplify the test to make it a one-time measurement. In the meantime, he advises consumers to pay attention to their fruit and vegetable intake and to follow other healthy dietary guidelines, such as eating three servings of dairy products a day, choosing either low- or no-fat varieties if weight control is a concern.

Logan said his team also plans to study the value of the test in people besides those with kidney disease, including those with irritable bowel syndrome, many of whom eat a poor diet.

More information

To learn more about the dietary guidelines, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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