How Does Alcohol Affect the Kidneys?

It helps people build muscle, heal, fight infections, and stay healthy. The amount of protein we need depends on our age, sex, and health. Animal proteins, like meat, dairy, and eggs, contain all the essential building blocks, but some can be high in unhealthy fats.

Are there any health benefits to drinking alcohol?

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are a leading cause of chronic kidney issues. High blood sugar levels can damage the vessels in the kidneys, which inhibits their ability to filter waste properly. Excessive alcohol use can also cause liver disease, which in turn puts more stress on the kidneys. For this reason, chronic alcohol use can lead to both liver and kidney disease.

The Science Behind Beer and Kidney Health

Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption can compromise kidney function, particularly in conjunction with established liver disease. Investigators have observed alcohol-related changes in the structure and function of the kidneys and impairment in their ability to regulate the volume and composition of fluid and electrolytes in the body. Chronic alcoholic patients may experience low blood concentrations of key electrolytes as well as potentially severe alterations in the body’s acid-base balance.

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This abnormality may reflect the severity of liver disease, but the available data do not allow correlation of kidney impairment with the degree of clinical signs of liver disease, such as ascites or jaundice. Despite the multiple possible causes of acidosis, disturbances in acid-base balance are more frequently manifested as low acidity (i.e., alkalosis). Alkalosis was present does alcohol kill your kidneys in 71 percent of patients with established liver disease in 11 studies, and respiratory alkalosis was the most common disturbance in 7 of the studies (Oster and Perez 1996).

Low-Cost Kidney Disease Superfoods to Add to Your Plate in 2025

Your liver is also responsible for filtering out toxins, like alcohol. However, only a certain amount of alcohol can be filtered at a time. For every alcoholic beverage consumed, it takes the body approximately one hour to process it. If too much alcohol is consumed, the excess alcohol circulates throughout the bloodstream and goes to other organs and tissues in your body, including your brain and heart. Your liver is an essential organ to your body and produces hundreds of vital functions every day, including bile production, excretion of cholesterol and hormones and enzyme activation. In 2018, NIH states that of the 83,517 liver disease deaths among individuals 12 and older, 47.8% involved the use of alcohol.

Remember, kidney damage and disease can lead to other health issues. Even though most people have two kidneys, it only takes one kidney to function. But, if you have only one kidney, you must live a healthy lifestyle. So, if you have one kidney and drink alcohol, you can cause life-threatening issues.

Myth: If your kidneys seem to be functioning well, you are probably doing fine

If you’re in Connecticut and would like to find a doctor near you, you can locate a board-certified PACT primary care physician using our searchable list here. If you have a history of kidney disease, it’s crucial to approach beer consumption with caution. Alcohol can exacerbate existing kidney issues and interfere with medications you might be taking. Drinking in moderation—typically no more than one drink per day for women and two for men—can be safer for those with kidney disease.

How Does Alcohol Affect the Kidneys?

Substantial evidence exists to support the concept that kidney failure in hepatorenal syndrome is not related to structural damage and is instead functional in nature. For example, almost 30 years ago, Koppel and colleagues (1969) demonstrated that kidneys transplanted from patients with hepatorenal syndrome are capable of resuming normal function in recipients without liver disease. In addition, Iwatsuki and colleagues (1973) and Gonwa and Wilkinson (1996) documented the return of normal kidney function in hepatorenal syndrome patients who receive liver transplants. Alcohol can induce abnormally high phosphate levels (i.e., hyperphosphatemia) as well as abnormally low levels. Alcohol consumption apparently leads to excessive phosphate levels by altering muscle cell integrity and causing the muscle cells to release phosphate.

• “Beer drinkers’ hyponatremia” is a syndrome that appears to result from an intake of excessive fluid in the form of beer.
• Drinking around 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women and 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) for men daily supports optimal function.
• If you are a binge drinker, then you put yourself in the increasing danger of kidney disease.
• While these symptoms can indicate that kidney disease may be present, they cannot be used to diagnose kidney disease.
• Obesity can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes, the two leading causes of kidney disease.

• In addition to causing dehydration, alcohol increases blood pressure by causing blood vessels to constrict.
• If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol use, knowing how it can affect kidney function and health is important.
• AKI can be caused by the shock binge drinking causes to the kidneys.
• Secondly, adopting a balanced diet low in sodium, protein, and phosphorus is recommended.

Alcohol can have serious, life-threatening health consequences for the liver, where alcohol is filtered and broken down in the body. Alcohol sales continue to surge as the U.S. is forced to shelter at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, alcoholic beverage sales have increased by 55% in 2020 compared to last year. While opting for a few drinks during the week is not a cause for concern, it’s important to be mindful of the long-term health effects of chronic alcohol use.

What Are the Signs of Kidney Damage from Alcohol?

Alcohol affects how your brain releases a hormone called vasopressin, suppressing how much is released. Vasopressin directly acts on your kidneys, reducing urine production. When alcohol suppresses normal vasopressin levels, your kidneys will increase urine production to Substance abuse higher levels.