As a result, circulating levels of acetaldehyde are usually elevated in alcoholics because of increased production, decreased removal or both. These include anthocyanins, which are the main polyphenols in red grapes, and resveratrol, which is the most famous polyphenolic compound found in red wine 104. They have been demonstrated to have ROS scavenging, antiplatelet, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiaging, and cardiovascular and renal-protective effects 105–112. Moreover, other bioactivators in red wine, excluding resveratrol, and those in white wine, also have the function of ROS scavenging and renal protection 7,84,113. For instance, a high intake of sugary beverages or high-sodium foods may strain the kidneys (1, 2), potentially leading to kidney damage over time.

Kidney stones

It’s important to understand the reason for your discomfort in case it’s a sign of something serious. According to the NKF, one potential symptom of AKI is flank pain, which is pain in the side of the back, between the ribs and hips. According to the NKF, individuals who have sustained an alcohol-induced AKI may require dialysis, depending on severity.

Understanding the Relationship Between Beer and Kidney Disease

ALDH is important not only for removing acetaldehyde, but also for the removal of other aldehydes, including biogenic aldehydes and lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes. Effective removal of acetaldehyde is important not only to prevent cellular toxicity, but also to maintain efficient removal of alcohol, e.g., acetaldehyde is a product inhibitor of ADH. The class I ALDH can oxidize retinal to retinoic acid; the possibility that high levels of acetaldehyde compete with retinal for oxidation by class I ALDH may be of developmental significance (75).

• Substrate shuttle mechanisms for the reoxidation of NADH by the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
• Kidneys are not our most glamorous organs, often taking a back seat in the news to the brain or the heart.
• In addition, consuming enough water is crucial to support proper kidney function.

Understanding the Risks of Smoking and Kidney Disease

However, linearity is not observed at low alcohol concentration since ADH is no longer saturated with ethanol. Alcohol elimination now follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics; the rate of change in the concentration of alcohol depends on the concentration of alcohol and the kinetic constants Km and Vmax (23,24). And as always, do not forget to check with your doctor or healthcare provider and discuss with him/her the merits and dangers of including alcohol in your renal diet. The presence of alcohol has a “drying effect” on the tissues and organs in your body, destabilizing fluid balance and adding to your kidneys’ workload.

Moderate drinking should not cause kidney pain, but binge drinking or frequent drinking may cause kidney problems. Binge drinking, defined as having four or more drinks at a time, may result in a serious condition known as acute kidney injury. This does drinking beer hurt your kidneys occurs when the toxins from alcohol build up in your blood quickly and your kidneys are not able to maintain the right fluid balance. However, The Lancet published a large-scale study that concluded that consumption of alcohol should be no more than 100 grams of alcohol per week (30), much lower than many countries’ current recommendations.