There is a lower risk of ischemic heart disease for moderate drinkers without heavy drinking occasions and a higher risk for drinkers with the same average amount who engaged in heavy episodic drinking 76. Moreover, the harmful effect of episodic heavy drinking seems to be more obvious in people with light alcohol consumption, and it may be related to a rise in platelet reactivity and thrombosis after binge drinking 9. However, some studies have found that ethanol can directly cause kidney damage, independent of liver damage 28,30,31.
Drinking alcohol to excess is linked to several health problems, including liver disease and an increased risk of some cancers (not to mention risks from drunk driving or accidental injuries while intoxicated). Yes, doctors may sometimes prescribe Glyxambi along with metformin to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In fact, metformin was included in some clinical trials of Glyxambi to study its effectiveness when used together.
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You probably know someone who developed health problems from drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol can impact many different parts of the body, but most commonly it damages the liver and can lead to a condition called cirrhosis. These processes can take years, with many ups and downs in the journey. Abstaining from alcohol is a difficult challenge on its own, but for a person who is struggling with kidney problems, there are additional health considerations to take into account.
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. Threats to the normal functioning of the kidneys are serious medical problems, and alcoholism is a contributing factor to kidney disease. Even those who only have two drinks per day may have a higher risk of high blood pressure, a leading cause of kidney disease.
However, during chronic ethanol consumption, the body also uses CYP2E1 in the liver as well as the kidneys. Interestingly, studies find that CYP2E1 induction is much more robust in the kidneys compared with the liver (Roberts et al. 1994; Zerilli et al. 1995). This massive induction of CYP2E1 in the kidneys results in oxidative stress that difference between aa and na modifies phospholipids in cell membranes. Such modified phospholipids may in turn activate immune cells called neutrophil granulocytes, which further aggravates oxidative stress, promoting a vicious cycle (Latchoumycandane et al. 2015).
What does kidney pain from alcohol feel like?
Regular and excessive alcohol use can also cause high blood pressure (hypertension) for a combination of reasons, such as disrupting hormones and affecting the muscles in blood vessels. According to a 2017 review, the question of whether alcohol consumption affects kidney function remains controversial. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no so-called “safe” level of alcohol consumption, and the more alcohol a person drinks, the greater their risk of health issues. What about the kidney pain some people claim to feel after a night of drinking? According to Dr. Bobart, there’s no research to suggest a link between alcohol and kidney pain. If you consume alcohol during Glyxambi treatment, these side effects may be more likely to occur.
Another noteworthy problem is alcohol consumption in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In recent years, CKD has become one of the most serious global public health problems. Recent studies estimated that CKD affects about 119.5 million people worldwide 10,11. Some clinical studies show that alcohol consumption is an important issue in patients with CKD; approximately 20–36% of patients consume alcohol either occasionally or daily, and the approximate percentage of heavy drinkers among patients with CKD is 10% 10,12–14. Chronic or acute heart failure can lead to chronic or acute dysfunction in the kidneys, known as cardiorenal syndrome (Cleland et al. 2012).
It’s not as simple as one drink, one unit
This could also be a significant factor contributing to ethanol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the kidneys (Harris et al. 2015). Second, the proteinuria detection and diagnosis of CKD can also affect the credibility of the conclusion. In most studies, proteinuria was detected by a single measurement using a dipstick test.
How Alcohol Affects Kidney Health Long Term
- In other studies, the researchers used serum creatinine or eGFR to ascertain the kidney function of patients; however, they are not ideal in many drinkers, especially in those with extremely low or high muscle mass due to chronic alcoholism 123.
- People who maintain this kind of drinking habit are at double the risk for developing kidney disease compared to the general population, including moderate drinkers.
- Rather than the type of beverage, it is the amount of alcohol that affects the kidneys, with binge or excessive drinking having the most impact.
- In general, NO is generated by mesangial cells and renal tubular epithelial cells, and it plays an important role in the regulation of glomerular and medullar hemodynamics and renin release.
- If your doctor prescribes Glyxambi, they may adjust the doses of your other diabetes medications, including metformin.
Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Glyxambi treatment. Diuretics are often prescribed for high blood pressure or edema (fluid buildup). For additional information, including details about its uses, see this other article about Glyxambi. All authors were responsible for the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of the data. H-YW, M-JK, K-LC, and K-YH provided administrative, technical, and material support. H-YW, K-LC, and K-YH contributed to the acquisition of funding for the study.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see whether you’re due for any vaccines. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Glyxambi, talk with your doctor. This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. Y.J.L. designed the study; Y.J.L., S.C., and S.R.K. analyzed the data; Y.J.L. drafted the paper; S.C. And S.R.K. reviewed and revised the paper; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript. See a doctor or therapist if you feel you’re dependent on alcohol or if it’s interfering with your life in some way.