Can drinking alcohol prevent kidney disease? Let’s learn about these hazards first! Friends who love drinking should not miss it!

gossip

It is well known that "drinking alcohol harms the liver", and there is a consensus that alcohol-induced liver damage has been established. However, it seems that there is little saying that "drinking alcohol harms the kidneys", and there are even some rumors that "drinking alcohol makes it less likely to get kidney stones" and "drinking alcohol can prevent kidney disease" .

So, are these rumors credible? What is the relationship between drinking and kidneys? Let's find out.

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analyze

01

Rumor: People who drink alcohol are less likely to get kidney stones.

Analysis: Unbelievable!

Studies have found that people who drink alcohol excrete more calcium in their urine, which increases the concentration of calcium in the urine and makes it easier for calcium oxalate stones to form in the kidneys. Drinking alcohol also causes increased uric acid, which leads to uric acid stones. In addition, drinking alcohol causes oxidative stress on kidney tissue, which leads to stone formation.

The previous rumor that "drinking alcohol makes it less likely to get kidney stones" is largely due to the fact that drinking alcohol dilutes the blood and urine, so drinking more water can achieve the same effect.

02

Myth: Drinking alcohol can prevent kidney disease.

Analysis: Unbelievable!

Research results show that drinking in moderation may reduce the incidence of kidney disease. This is related to the presence of some special chemical components in wine, such as polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress and cardiovascular protective effects. However, polyphenols are mainly found in wine, and drinking beer, liquor, etc. cannot produce this effect. Drinking wine in moderation is necessary, because as the amount of alcohol consumed increases, the benefits of polyphenols will gradually disappear, and instead, the harm to the body will increase greatly.

In fact, since the 19th century, scientists have found that alcoholism increases the risk of glomerulonephritis, acute kidney injury, and renal transplant failure. Alcoholics (drinking more than 30g per week) have a higher risk of proteinuria, and long-term drinking increases the incidence of chronic kidney disease.

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What effects does drinking alcohol have on the kidneys?

Direct impact

Although alcohol is mostly metabolized in the liver, the kidneys are equally important in alcohol metabolism. The kidneys contain the enzymes necessary for alcohol metabolism, and approximately 10% of ingested alcohol is excreted by the kidneys in its original form. Therefore, excessive drinking can put a great deal of stress on the kidneys' normal metabolic processes.

Studies have shown that drinking alcohol can directly cause kidney damage, which may be caused by alcohol itself or by excessive intermediates formed when cells metabolize alcohol. It is mainly manifested as decreased glomerular filtration rate, increased serum creatinine and urea nitrogen, and proteinuria, which is called "alcoholic kidney damage." In this process, alcohol-induced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory changes are the key to the damage.

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Indirect impact

In addition to directly causing kidney damage, drinking alcohol can also indirectly cause kidney damage through damage to other organs.

Most Chinese people drink alcohol with snacks , and most of these foods contain a lot of salt, purine and various phosphorus-containing seasonings. These foods will not only increase the body's capacity load, but also cause high blood pressure, increase the workload of the kidneys, or directly or indirectly cause kidney damage.

Therefore, long-term and heavy drinking has an impact on human health. The impact of long-term drinking on human health is prominently reflected in the following aspects:

▶ 1. Liver damage. It is a recognized fact that drinking alcohol damages the liver. After drinking, alcohol will be absorbed into the blood, flow to the liver first, and then circulate throughout the body. Therefore, the alcohol concentration in the liver is the highest after drinking, and the liver is also the organ most affected by alcohol poisoning. Over time, the liver will be damaged, leading to diseases such as alcoholic cirrhosis. When the liver fails, hepatorenal syndrome will also occur, leading to kidney failure.

▶ 2. Intestinal damage. A large number of experimental studies have confirmed that excessive drinking can lead to increased intestinal permeability and the release of bacterial endotoxins, which in turn can cause increased oxidative stress and excessive activation of the immune response, all of which can lead to further damage to the kidneys.

▶ 3. Skeletal muscle disease. Excessive drinking is also associated with various acute and chronic muscle symptoms, which can lead to muscle weakness, pain, swelling, etc., and rhabdomyolysis. The endotoxins decomposed during the dissolution process enter the blood and produce toxic reactions to the kidneys and heart. The dissolved myoglobin can cause blockage of the renal tubules, aggravating the occurrence of renal failure. Severe cases require dialysis treatment.

▶ 4. Hyperuricemia. Long-term heavy drinking will lead to a significant increase in blood uric acid, thus forming uric acid stones, which can lead to kidney obstruction and damage the kidneys.

▶ 5. Cardiovascular disease. Excessive drinking can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and significantly increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Acute and chronic heart failure can lead to kidney dysfunction, which is called cardiorenal syndrome.

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The impact on women is more obvious

A study from Japan showed that women are more likely to experience renal dysfunction caused by alcohol abuse. One reason for this gender difference may be the different pharmacokinetics of alcohol between men and women. Since women have a lower proportion of water in their bodies and a smaller distribution volume of alcohol, their blood alcohol concentration may be higher than that of men, making them more sensitive to alcohol than men.

Profound impact on pregnant women and nursing mothers

Prenatal and neonatal exposure to alcohol may have profound effects on the health of offspring. Studies in rats have shown that exposure to moderate levels of alcohol during pregnancy can impair kidney development in offspring and lead to permanent kidney defects. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can lead to impaired renal function and increased arterial stiffness. Even small amounts of prenatal alcohol exposure can have immeasurable effects on the cardiovascular health of offspring. During lactation, alcohol can affect the health of infants through breast milk. Therefore, drinking during pregnancy and lactation should be avoided.

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The more you drink, the more dangerous it is

A large number of studies have shown that the harm of drinking to the body is dose-dependent. This is especially true for the kidneys. The more alcohol you drink, the higher the risk of chronic kidney disease and proteinuria. People with chronic kidney disease have a faster deterioration of kidney function.

in conclusion

The statements that “people who drink alcohol are less likely to get kidney stones” and “drinking alcohol can prevent kidney disease” are not credible.

People who drink alcohol for a long time or in large doses must pay attention to the damage alcohol can cause to the kidneys and should actively quit drinking or reduce the amount and frequency of drinking. The symptoms of kidney problems are very hidden and generally not easy to detect quickly. Once obvious symptoms appear, they are not easy to correct quickly. Therefore, alcoholics should regularly perform urine routine and kidney function tests on the basis of quitting drinking or reducing drinking, so as to detect problems in time and take intervention treatment to prevent the occurrence of serious kidney damage.

For people who already have kidney disease, they often have other complications, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, etc. For these people, drinking alcohol may further increase their risk of death. In addition, drinking alcohol can cause hemodialysis patients to experience increased volume load, hypertension, and electrolyte imbalance between two dialysis sessions, which also puts them at risk.

Drinking alcohol not only harms the liver but also the kidneys. For our health, the most effective and simple way is to not drink alcohol. If adults need to drink alcohol, it is recommended that the maximum amount of alcohol consumed per day should not exceed 15g.

Author: Wen Jing Department of Nephrology, Beijing Haidian Hospital

Reviewer: Zheng Yumei Director of the Science Communication and Health Education Management Center, Institute of Science and Technology, National Health Commission

Yu Yusheng Chief Physician of Nephrology Department, Eastern Command General Hospital of PLA

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