The effect of thiazides on total body bone mineral content and axial (trunk) and peripheral (arms) bone mass was evaluated. First, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to study bone mass in 24 patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria and in 22 healthy subjects. Next, the patients were randomized into a group of 14 patients treated with chlorthalidone (50 mg/day) and a group of 10 untreated patients who served as controls; in these two groups biochemical and bone mass studies were repeated 1 year later. Compared with healthy controls, patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria had less bone mass in total body (p < 0.02), arms (p < 0.001), and trunk (p < 0.05). After 1 year, the group of patients treated with thiazides manifested an increase of bone mass in total body (p < 0.0045), arms, and trunk (p < 0.0001) and a decrease in 24-hour calciuria, urinary calcium/creatinine ratio, and serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase concentration; the untreated group of patients lost bone mass in all three sites. Under baseline conditions, the groups of treated and untreated patients exhibited a negative linear regression between total body bone mass and both urinary calcium/creatinine (r2 = 0.234; p < 0.001) and serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase concentration (r2 = 0.399; p < 0.0001). Our results confirm the favorable effect of thiazides on bone mass and provide evidence of enhanced bone remodeling in idiopathic hypercalciuria.