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When you grab a cup of coffee, chances are you’re more concerned about how quickly it will wake you up than what else it might be doing to your body. It’s completely understandable, of course. Who doesn’t love the zing that gets your brain fired up and your body moving when that precious caffeine rush kicks in? Granted, beyond that, you might experience a number of surprising side effects if you drink coffee every day, some good and some not so good. In fact, a new study has found that drinking three or more cups of coffee a day can damage your kidneys.
The study, which has just been published in Open JAMA Network, involved 1,180 adults aged 18 to 45 with untreated stage 1 hypertension (high blood pressure). While the study lasted about 16 years, the participants were each examined during a follow-up that took place over a period of seven and a half years. At that time, the study authors were monitoring hyperfiltration (a glomerular filtration rate considered higher than normal), albuminuria (too much albumin in the urine), and hypertension, all of which are common signs of kidney dysfunction. and kidney disease.
Looking at the results, they first noted that the rs762551 variant of the CYP1A2 gene was present in about half of the participants, meaning their bodies don’t metabolize caffeine as quickly as they otherwise would. They also found that those who metabolized caffeine more slowly were 2.7 times more likely to suffer from kidney dysfunction if they drank three or more cups of coffee a day. Specifically, they were 2.5 times more likely to end up with hyperfiltration, 2.7 times more likely to develop albuminuria, and 2.8 times more likely to face hypertension.
“It implicates caffeine, in particular, as a component of coffee that can damage the kidneys,” said Dr. Sara Mahdavi, lead author of the study and researcher in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at the University of Toronto. , according to Medical News Today.
“This is certainly an interesting study and highlights how important it is that nutrition is individualized for each person,” Melanie Betz MS, RD, CSR, CSG at the Kidney Foundation, says Eat this, not that! “We are only beginning to understand the role that genetics plays in the response to any drug or nutritional intervention.”
At the same time, Betz points out, “It’s important to remember that this study found a higher risk of kidney dysfunction in people who drank more than 3 cups of coffee a day. That’s quite a bit!”
“The results of this study alone don’t tell me that everyone should avoid coffee altogether,” Betz says. “But, maybe more than 1-2 cups of coffee isn’t ideal. Also, most other studies have found a reduced risk of kidney disease in people who drink coffee. It’s important to interpret all results together.”
Beyond that, she points out that “the study was not adjusted for other dietary factors that we know impact kidney health.” For this reason, she explains, “it’s entirely possible that people who drink more coffee tend to eat less fruit and vegetables and more animal protein, all of which we constantly see has an impact negative on kidney health.
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Does that mean you’re safe from the potentially harmful effects coffee could have on your kidneys if you drink less than 3 cups a day?
“There has been a ‘U’ curve in caffeine consumption”, Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDNnephrology dietitian and CEO of Plant-Powered Kidneys Inc. explains to Eat this, not that! “Those who consumed about 1 cup or less per day saw benefits, including protection against blood pressure, while those who consumed more than 3 cups per day also saw benefits.” So at the end of the day it really depends on the individual.
“Coffee contains antioxidants and micronutrients like potassium, which may be helpful in protecting kidney function as well as maintaining healthy blood pressure,” Hernandez says while noting that “a 2020 study found coffee to be beneficial for the protection of the kidneys”.
This surely means that it is best to consume coffee in moderation if you want to safely experience the benefits it has to offer. However, if you are still worried and prefer prevention to cure, Dr. Mahdavi has a suggestion: “[D]Decaffeinated coffee is virtually devoid of caffeine, those who consume decaffeinated would not have a higher risk of kidney dysfunction, regardless of their genetics.”
Desiree O
Desirée O is a freelance writer who covers, among other things, lifestyle, food and nutrition news. Learn more about Desiree
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