Light to moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with a lower risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to the findings of a Japanese study presented at the 58th European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association virtual congress.
Compared with non-drinkers, individuals who drank less than 20 grams and 20 to 40 grams of alcohol at one time had a 16% and 21% decreased risk for new-onset CKD, respectively, and a 23% and 25% decreased risk for new-onset proteinuria, respectively, in multivariate analyses, first author Yusaku Hashimoto, MD, of Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Nagoya, Japan, reported. Dr Hashimoto and his colleagues adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index, smoking status, and other variables.
The retrospective study included 11,764 individuals who underwent health check-ups at Kumiai Kousei Hospital in Gifu, Japan. The investigators classified participants into 5 groups based on drinking status: non-drinkers and those who drank less than 20, 20 to 40, 40 to 60, and more than 60 grams of alcohol at one time. Consumption of 40 to 60 and more than 60 grams of alcohol at one time was not significantly associated with the risk of CKD or proteinuria.
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Dr Hashimoto noted that previous research showed that alcohol consumption was inversely associated with CKD risk, but the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and CKD risk has been controversial.
Reference
Hashimoto Y, Imaizumi T, Hori A, Kato S, Yasuda Y, Maruyama S. Dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing CKD: Retrospective cohort study. Presented at: 58th ERA-EDTA 2021 virtual congress, June 5-8, 2021. Abstract MO509.
