In a prospective cohort study with 14,207 middle-aged participants, those who drank any amount of coffee each day had a 15% lower risk of suffering from acute kidney injury, with the largest reductions observed in the group drinking from two to three cups a day.
Higher coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of acute kidney injury incidents and could represent an opportunity for cardio-renal protection through diet. Image credit: Sci-News.com.
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world.
It contains a wide variety of compounds, such as caffeine, diterpenes, and chlorogenic acid, which are fully developed after the bean roasting process and are reported to have a wide variety of health benefits.
Regular coffee consumption is associated with the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and liver disease.
A previous population study found that daily consumption of self-reported coffee was associated with a lower risk of chronic kidney disease incidence after adjustments were made for demographic, clinical, and dietary factors.
Thus, regular coffee consumption has a strong potential to reduce the risk of progressive kidney disease.
“We can now add a possible reduction in the risk of acute kidney injury to the growing list of caffeine health benefits,” said Professor Chirag Parikh, director of the Division of Nephrology at Johns University School of Medicine. Hopkins.
“Acute kidney injury, as described by the National Kidney Foundation, is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that occurs within a few hours or days.”
“This causes waste products to build up in the blood, making it difficult for the kidneys to maintain the proper fluid balance in the body.”
“Symptoms of acute kidney injury differ depending on the cause and may include: too little urine coming out of the body; swelling in the legs and ankles and around the eyes; fatigue; shortness of breath; confusion; nausea; chest pain; and in severe cases, convulsions or coma ”.
“The disorder is most commonly seen in hospitalized patients whose kidneys are affected by medical and surgical stress and complications.”
In their research, Professor Parikh and colleagues analyzed data from the Risk of Atherosclerosis in Communities (ARIC) study, an ongoing survey of cardiovascular disease in four communities in the United States.
They evaluated 14,207 adult participants recruited between 1987 and 1989 with a mean age of 54 years and the following self-approved coffee consumption habits: 27% never drank coffee; 14% drank 3 cups a day.
During the survey period, 1,694 cases of acute kidney injury were reported.
Taking into account demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle influences, and dietary factors, there was a 15% lower risk of acute kidney injury for participants who consumed any amount of coffee. compared to those who did not.
When adjusted for additional comorbidities, such as blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), diabetes status, use of antihypertensive drugs, and kidney function, people who drank coffee still had a 11% lower risk of developing acute kidney injury compared to those who did. no.
“We suspect that the reason for the impact of coffee on the risk of acute kidney injury may be that biologically active compounds combined with caffeine or just caffeine itself improve perfusion and oxygen utilization in the kidneys,” he said. Professor Parikh.
“Good kidney function and tolerance to acute kidney injury depend on a constant supply of blood and oxygen.”
“Further studies are needed to define the possible protective mechanisms of coffee consumption for the kidneys, especially at the cellular level,” he added.
“Caffeine has been postulated to inhibit the production of molecules that cause chemical imbalances and the use of excess oxygen in the kidneys. Perhaps caffeine helps the kidneys maintain a more stable system.”
The results were published in the journal Kidney International Reports.
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Kalie L. Tommerdahl et al. Coffee consumption may mitigate the risk of acute kidney injury: results of the study on the risk of atherosclerosis in communities. Kidney International Reports, published online May 5, 2022; doi: 10.1016 / j.ekir.2022.04.091