The aim of this 17-day study was to examine the influence of four different diets on urine composition and the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation in 10 healthy male subjects. In the course of phase 0, the subjects were on their individual diet for 2 days. In the following phases I, II, and III the subjects received three different standard diets for a duration of 5 days each. Whereas DIET 1 (normal mixed diet) corresponded to the dietary habits of men aged 19 to 35 years, DIET 2 (balanced mixed diet) and DIET 3 (ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet) were calculated according to the dietary recommendations of the German Society of Nutrition (DGE) for the same age-group. The risk of calcium oxalate stone formation, calculated by the computer program EQUIL of FINLAYSON, was highest on the self-selected diet and on DIET 1, but declined significantly on the intake of DIET 2 by 50% on average compared to DIET 1 and by 61% compared to phase 0. On DIET 3 no further significant decline in the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation was observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that the change of usual dietary habits into a balanced mixed diet significantly reduces the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation. With a vegetarian diet a comparable decline in urine supersaturation of calcium oxalate can be achieved with respect to a mixed diet according to requirements. Since urinary oxalic acid excretion increased significantly, a vegetarian diet is not recommend for calcium oxalate stone patients with absorptive hyperoxaluria.