WebMD also recommends getting tested regularly, especially if you have a higher chance of developing kidney disease than the general population. Healthy kidneys ensure that such proteins stay out of a normal urine flow; kidneys suffering from chronic alcohol abuse, on the other hand, cannot stop proteins (like albumin) from “leaking” into urine. The National Kidney Foundation warns that albuminuria can be an early sign of kidney disease, which will require nephrology treatment. The human body has dozens of vital organs, and the kidneys are among the most important. They regulate water intake and outtake, they balance the amount of minerals in the body, and they produce vital hormones, according to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
Increased gastrointestinal permeability and endotoxin load may lead to alcoholic steatohepatitis resulting in excessive immunoglobulin A (IgA) load (due to increased intestinal production and decreased hepatic IgA clearance). IgA deposits may accumulate in the kidney, leading to glomerulopathy. Renal microcirculatory alterations in advanced liver cirrhosis leads to hepatorenal syndrome. Alcohol-induced skeletal muscle damage leads to excessive amounts of circulating myoglobin, causing renal tubular injury as a result of increased oxidative stress. Due to the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic renal hypoxia develops, activating the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), which in turn leads to further free radical production and to the propagation of fibrotic pathways.
Managing Blood Sugar and Chronic Kidney Disease
Although most of the alcohol is metabolized in the liver, the kidneys are equally important in the metabolism and excretion of ethyl alcohol. Some enzymes that are necessary for ethanol metabolism, such as alcohol dehydrogenase, CYP2E1, and CYP24A1, have been found in the kidneys 22,23. Furthermore, approximately 10% of ingested ethanol is excreted by the kidneys in its original form 21. Therefore, excessive alcohol consumption places a major strain on the normal metabolic processes of the kidneys. For example, alcohol can induce the production of reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), which can result in oxidative stress in the kidneys, leading to potential renal injury resulting from hemodynamic disorders and inflammation 24–28. A high alcohol intake may also increase the risk of other problems that can hurt the kidneys, such as a urinary tract infection, high blood pressure, and long-term kidney damage.
Limitations of Existing Studies
Try swapping out alcoholic drinks for alternative beverages such as juices and teas. Coconut water, apple cider vinegar drinks, and hot chocolate are great options. You can make mocktails in a fancy glass if you want to drink something special, especially in social situations. You may wish to swap out hard liquor for beer or wine, since these have a lower alcohol content. Keep track of your drinks using an app or a diary so you can monitor your progress. Having kidney stones increases your risk of developing hydronephrosis.
What are the signs of kidney damage from alcohol?
Several studies have demonstrated that alcohol consumption increases ROS generation, which contributes to lipid peroxidation and damages antioxidant capacity 34,35. But alcohol can also harm other body organs which can impair renal function. This type of sudden-onset kidney damage often resolves with time, but it can be lasting in some cases.
- This type of sudden-onset kidney damage often resolves with time, but it can be lasting in some cases.
- The hormones that control kidney function can also be adversely affected.
- It may be that toxins released from the intestines into blood circulation because of ethanol’s effects on the digestive system activate the expression of nitric oxide synthase.
- When you drink heavily, your kidneys have to work harder to filter out the alcohol.
- In terms of liver-related outcomes, some patients developed hepatic encephalopathy (11.8% in fixed dose vs 6.3% in tapering dose) and acute variceal bleed (3.1% in each group), as well as acute kidney injury (26.8% in fixed dose vs 18.9% in tapering dose).
6. Study Design
Many patients with CKD often have other comorbidities, such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and other serious chronic diseases. For these patients, drinking alcohol may further increase their risk of death. In addition, alcohol consumption can contribute to volume overload, hypertension, and electrolyte disorder between hemodialysis sessions in hemodialysis patients, which also should not be ignored. 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.
Overall, the proportion of steroid responders was similar in both groups, at 80.3% in the fixed dose group and 82.5% in the tapering dose group. The mean age of participants was 41.1 years, the median Model For End-Stage Liver Disease score was 25.6, and 98.4% were men. While taking corticosteroids, 66% of those in the fixed dose group and 55% of those in the tapering group also received prophylactic antibiotics.
We think that the enhancement of CAT activities may not come from high concentration of ethanol, but rather from the compensatory improvement of antioxidant capacity after the intervention with tommy lee drinking low-concentration ethanol in the early stage. Chronic or acute heart failure can lead to chronic or acute dysfunction in the kidneys, known as cardiorenal syndrome (Cleland et al. 2012). The overactivation of RAAS further aggravates oxidative stress in chronic alcoholism (Ungvari et al. 2004).
