Moderate Drinking May Prevent Male Kidney Decline
U.S. researchers have found that moderate alcohol consumption may help prevent male kidney function decline.
According to the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine," researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston studied 11,000 men participating in the "Medical Health Study," conducting blood tests and questionnaires.
Among the surveyed men, those drinking at least seven cups of alcohol per week had a 30% lower likelihood of elevated serum creatinine levels compared to those drinking one cup or none per week. Elevated serum creatinine is a strong indicator of kidney dysfunction.
Tobias Kurl, gerontology researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, stated previous studies showed moderate drinking helps prevent cardiovascular disease, but the relationship between drinking and kidney decline was unclear, with most research indicating alcohol harms kidneys.
He said: “This is the first evidence showing moderate drinking reduces the risk of chronic kidney disease. Given that kidney disease is often linked to cardiovascular issues, this result is not surprising. This study may deepen our understanding of alcohol and disease prevention.”
Although these findings contradict conventional views, researchers emphasize this does not mean people should adopt drinking—especially heavy drinking—as a kidney-protective strategy.
Kurl also noted the study population consisted solely of healthy men, so the reliability of these conclusions, particularly regarding applicability to women and patients, remains to be further verified.