Good news for coffee fans: a cup of joe seems to benefit kidney health

Coffee may well be added to the list to keep kidneys healthy. This was discovered by Anniek van Westing during her PhD research in Human Nutrition and Health. Previous studies have already indicated that there is a link, but some of these studies are deemed controversial by fellow researchers. The new study among just under 80 thousand Dutch subjects seems to confirm that coffee keeps our kidneys healthy. This applies to people in general but, particularly to people with diabetes.

Four cups of coffee

Each cup of coffee is linked to a reduction in kidney damage, up to a maximum of four cups. Two cups yield more health benefits than one, while three cups offer even more advantages. This increased benefit stops after four cups. It is worth noting that the above applies to black coffee without sugar or any other unhealthy additives

Should we all start drinking black coffee to keep our kidneys fit? The two nutrition scientists say it is too early for official recommendations. Firstly, because the study focused solely on coffee drinkers and their kidney health. ‘The study does not provide hard evidence’, Geleijnse underscores. ‘In this type of research, we must always consider other disrupting effects that might be in play.’ Van Westing feels that other researchers must confirm the findings. Because the positive effects of coffee are most apparent for people who have diabetes, a follow-up study should focus on people with diabetes in Western countries, she states.

Cold and itchy

The fact that we pay little attention to our kidney health is not very surprising, as kidney damage initially causes only minor complaints. Fatigues, itchiness and susceptibility to cold, for example. Because the effects of these symptoms are neither unique nor extremely negative, chronic kidney disease often remains undiagnosed until the kidney function drops to a level where the patient requires dialysis or a transplant.

Despite the apparent lack of impact of the symptoms, kidney damage is a significant cause of death. Deterioration in kidney function starts as early as the age of 35. As a result, 1.7 million Dutch with poorly functioning kidneys risk early death. Fortunately, doctors are increasingly able to treat this group of people because of continuous improvements in medicine. Still, early diagnosis is essential, says kidney doctor Ron Gansevoort (Groningen University Medical Centre).

Sumbit urine

Despite the quick results, Gansevoort discovered that people were more motivated to cooperate if they were asked to submit a urine sample for testing than when they were asked to self-test at home. ‘Sixty per cent of the test subjects participated in the test when they were asked to submit a urine sample’, the doctor states. When using an app to test, the number of respondents was no more than forty per cent. Large-scale testing campaigns where people send in a urine sample appear to be the best strategy to conduct a population study on kidney health.

Increased focus on kidneys

We must pay more attention to our kidneys, for example, through systematic testing and by opting for a diet that benefits our bean-shaped blood filters. According to Van Weesting’s study, the degradation of kidney function is twice as fast in diabetics and people who have suffered a heart attack. That group should be monitored more closely. And, perhaps, the future dietary recommendations for healthy kidneys may include several cups of coffee a day.