Ethanol and polyphenol both have anti-oxidative effects and ethanol improves polyphenol absorption, thereby contributing to bioavailability 4,5,6. Furthermore, alcohol has an anti-inflammatory effect, with increased serum interleukin-10 levels and decreased serum interleukin-16 levels 20. Alcohol consumption can raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration 21,22, improve insulin sensitivity 23, and reduce platelet aggregation rate and fibrinolysis 21,22. Alcohol consumption, including vodka and red wine, also reduced serum insulin concentrations and enhanced the insulin sensitivity index 24,25. A moderate amount of alcohol drinking decreases the risk of developing diabetes, showing a U-shaped association 26. The kidneys are hard at work on any given day in a healthy person, but the kidneys of a heavy https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drink-alcohol-during-pregnancy/ drinker work overtime.
Association between total alcohol intake and rapid decline in kidney function
- The characteristics of the study design and other details of these studies are presented in Table 1.
- In general, NO is generated by mesangial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells, and it plays an important role in the regulation of glomerular and medullar hemodynamics and renin release.
- However, 3 glasses of wine would contribute over 500 milligrams potassium.
A person is at risk of different complications depending on the underlying cause of the kidney pain. Sustaining a physical injury to the kidneys, such as by falling from a height, may also cause kidney pain. The timing of the pain could be a coincidence, or the alcohol could have intensified an existing problem. Third, in most studies, patients’ alcohol consumption data were obtained by a fixed self-administered questionnaire, and this method lacks quantitative measurement.
Kidney injury secondary to alcohol hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other conditions
Binge drinking, or drinking numerous drinks in just a few hours, can cause an acute kidney injury. Drinking is a complex social activity, and the results of many studies on the effect of alcohol consumption on CKD may be affected by many confounding factors. This makes it difficult for us to obtain reliable evidence to support our conclusions. More clinical and experimental studies are needed to confirm the effect of alcohol consumption on CKD.
Considerations When Drinking Alcohol with Chronic Kidney Disease
- In addition, long-term alcohol consumption can lead to injuries of renal tubules 1,2,30,39,51.
- Drinking alcohol can trigger muscle cells to break down and release phosphorus into the bloodstream.
- Several studies have demonstrated that alcohol consumption increases ROS generation, which contributes to lipid peroxidation and damages antioxidant capacity 34,35.
In addition, the self-reporting nature of drinking behaviors and the amount of alcohol consumed may bias some of the conclusions as shown, for example, by Parekh and Klag (2001), who found that people who drink heavily underreport their alcohol consumption. Age, primary diseases, initial eGFR, and individual differences can also affect the prognosis of patients with CKD and interfere with the effects of alcohol on the kidneys 7,10,67,94. Since aging, metabolic diseases, and hypertension impair kidney function, they can also influence the effect of ethanol on the kidneys. Thus, the risk of kidney damage from alcohol increases with age, metabolic diseases, hypertension, and initial eGFR. However, Buja et al. suggested an inverse linear relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and the risk of age-related loss of renal function 90. Although moderate alcohol consumption contributes to increased insulin sensitivity 95,96 and delays the progression of diabetes 77,97, the prognosis of such patients differs from non-diabetic but moderate drinking patients with CKD.
Alcohol can impact many different parts of the body, but most commonly it damages the liver and can lead to alcohol and kidneys a condition called cirrhosis. This often comes up when I am evaluating someone for kidney disease. Similarly, there’s minimal evidence to suggest that alcohol increases the risk of kidney stones or kidney infections. These processes can take years, with many ups and downs in the journey. Abstaining from alcohol is a difficult challenge on its own, but for a person who is struggling with kidney problems, there are additional health considerations to take into account.
