Some of the first signs of kidney damage from alcohol are increased urination frequency, changes in urine, weakness, and fatigue. When you drink heavily, your kidneys have to work harder to filter out the alcohol. And in rare cases, binge drinking — five or more drinks at a time — can cause a sudden drop in kidney function called acute kidney injury.
Influence of sex, age, primary diseases and other confounding factors
One of the primary long-term effects is the development of alcohol-induced kidney disease (12). This condition is characterized by inflammation and scarring on the kidney (13). The kidneys are vital in maintaining the body’s internal balance and overall health. These bean-shaped organs filter waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood to form urine. Rather than the type of beverage, it is the amount of alcohol that affects the kidneys, with binge or excessive drinking having the most impact. A 2018 study found that having alcohol use disorder increased the likelihood of having a new diagnosis of CKD.
- All-cause and cardiovascular mortality increase with a reduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 75 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the general population2).
- This IgA-related kidney disease leads to clinical symptoms of renal injury and eventually progresses into renal failure (Amore et al. 1994; Bene et al. 1988; Pouria and Feehally 1999).
- These processes can take years, with many ups and downs in the journey.
7. Statistical Analysis
High blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing their efficiency in filtering blood (15). As a result, kidney function deteriorates over time, increasing the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Binge drinking (usually more than four to five drinks within two hours) can raise a person’s blood alcohol to dangerous levels. This can cause a sudden drop in kidney function known as “acute kidney injury.” When this happens, dialysis is needed until a person’s kidney function returns to normal. Acute Halfway house kidney injury usually goes away in time, but in some cases, it can lead to lasting kidney damage. Another noteworthy problem is alcohol consumption in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Notably, these mechanisms have not yet been validated experimentally in the kidney.
- Chronic alcohol consumption is a well-known risk factor for tissue injury.
- Although many studies stated that people should not start drinking for any reason, and alcohol consumption can increase disease risk 125, we also cite many studies demonstrating the protective effects of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption in our review.
- For example, White and colleagues (2009) reported that heavier drinkers (those consuming more than 30 g of alcohol/week) were at higher risk of incident albuminuria, which is typically a symptom of kidney disease.
- Kidney failure and alcohol use are often linked, and it seems there’s no turning back once damage is done.
Your kidney health is unique. Your path should be too.
Polyphenols, which are found in beverages, such as red wine, also have antioxidant effects 6,7. However, another rat model showed that ethanol may increase blood pressure and angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression, causing glomerular morphology changes. This may lead to renal corpuscle and glomeruli atrophy and reduced glomeruli volume 8. In this review, we focused on the effect of ethyl alcohol on the kidneys and the effect of drinking on patients with CKD, and summarized the clinical and experimental studies. We analyzed how alcohol affects the kidneys and compared the advantages and disadvantages of alcohol consumption for patients with CKD and the contradictions in existing studies, and we hope to provide some information for clinical decision-making and policy formulation.
- Rather than the type of beverage, it is the amount of alcohol that affects the kidneys, with binge or excessive drinking having the most impact.
- In addition, long-term alcohol consumption decreases prostaglandin E2 in the kidney, which can release anti-inflammatory cytokines and dilate the afferent arteriole to increase glomerular blood flow, which causes kidney dysfunction and glomerular destruction 24.
- Unfortunately, existing clinical studies have not analyzed why some patients with CKD give up drinking and the influence of giving up drinking on the prognosis of these patients.
- Moderate alcohol use may have no relation to kidney disease, but you should limit alcohol intake to protect your kidneys and overall health.
- A Japanese cohort study also found that CKD is an independent risk factor for higher rates of stroke in men and women.
- The reality of alcoholism being a significant and serious contributor to the risk of kidney disease means that people who struggle with alcohol use disorders must make kidney care part of their long-term treatment.
So, alcohol consumption can be a double-edged sword for patients with CKD, and any policy regarding alcohol consumption for them must be very cautious. Abstinence is one of the characteristics of human https://ecosoberhouse.com/ drinking habits; many doctors will encourage patients to stop drinking, which may be good for their health 121. As for the kidney damage caused by alcohol, some studies discovered that the patients’ renal function recovered after abstinence 1. However, others also found that abstinence cannot completely repair the kidney injury 26. Unfortunately, existing clinical studies have not analyzed why some patients with CKD give up drinking and the influence of giving up drinking on the prognosis of these patients. However, some studies have found that ethanol can directly cause kidney damage, independent of liver damage 28,30,31.
