Progression of chronic kidney disease and alcoholic beverages
A meta-analysis indicated less progression to chronic kidney disease in individuals consuming alcoholic beverages.
A meta-analysis investigated the association between a high consumption of alcoholic beverages and progression of kidney damage including chronic kidney disease (CKD) and proteinuria end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (*). Twenty studies with a total of 292,431 patients were included. The relative risk of CKD, and proteinuria was reduced by 17 % and 15 % even with high alcohol consumption. ESRD and high alcohol intake were not related. In men, the association between high alcohol consumption and CKD was significantly reduced; the reduction was non-significant in women.
Commentary (Prof. Nicolai Worm): The fact that the high consumption in this study was associated with a decreased risk does not – under any circumstances – justify a general advice on the consumption of alcoholic beverages for patients with chronic kidney disease. More research is needed for this. However, from a scientific point of view, the results are very interesting and deserve to be mentioned.
Cheungpasitporn W, Thongprayoon C, Kittanamongkolchai W, et al. High alcohol consumption and the risk of renal damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. QJM. 2014 Dec 16. pii: hcu247. [Epub ahead of print]
For more information about this article, read the scientific abstract here.
(*) ProteinuriaProteinuria is a condition where the urine contains an abnormal amount of proteins. Albumin is the m... is a condition where the urine contains an abnormal amount of proteins. Albumin is the main protein in the blood. Proteins are the building blocks for all body parts, including muscles, bones, hair, and nails. Proteins in the blood also perform a number of important functions. They protect the body from infection, help blood clot, and keep the right amount of fluid circulating throughout the body.
As blood passes through healthy kidneys, the waste products are filtered out and proteins that the body needs, like albumin and other proteins, are kept. Most proteins are too big to pass through the kidneys’ filters into the urine. However, proteins from the blood can leak into the urine when the filters of the kidney, called glomeruli, are damaged.
ProteinuriaProteinuria is a condition where the urine contains an abnormal amount of proteins. Albumin is the m... is a sign of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can result from diabetes, high blood pressure, and diseases that cause inflammation in the kidneys. If CKD progresses, it can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), when the kidneys fail completely. An individual with ESRD must receive a kidney transplant or regular blood-cleansing treatments called dialysis.