Learn about a Link between Carbonated Beverages and Renal Failure

What are Carbonated Beverages?

Drinking carbonated beverages known as soda or coke or soft drink might be very refreshing especially in summertime. Soda is a thirst-quenching beverage, but some are high in artificial sweetener such as aspartame or saccharin, high fructose corn syrup, sodium, caffeine, carbon dioxide, and phosphoric acid. These sugary drinks contain many calories, but provide no nutrients.

Soda Can Result in Albuminuria

Consuming more sodas might also increase your risk of suffering from renal failure. Carbonated beverages and renal failure are closely interrelated. Kidney disease is a serious problem Americans have to deal with. According to a research published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers found that women who had consumed two or more cans of soda 24 hours earlier had a higher possibility to have albuminuria in their urine. Albuminuria is an excess of protein, which should not exist in the kidneys. Researchers concluded that the existence of albuminuria after drinking soda could signify an early stage of kidney failure.

Another study of the American Society of Nephrology reveals that individuals who consume artificially sweetened soda might diminish their renal function significantly. This study also measured the correlation between carbonated beverages and renal failure. For 11 years, researchers evaluated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which is a measure of kidney function. Drinking two or more servings of soda a day during the study was linked to a decline in their eGFR by 30 percent or 3 mL per minute per year. Normally, renal function will deteriorate about 1 mL per minute per year after age 40 owing to natural aging. However, consuming less than two servings per day could not affect renal function.

Soda Might Contain More Mercury and Sodium

Levels of mercury in high fructose corn syrup might also determine the danger of drinking soda. The journal Environmental Health explains that high fructose corn syrup can endanger health due to mercury content, which in turn is hazardous to the kidneys. A study showed that 9 of 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup had been polluted with mercury. This fact is important because artificial sweetener is not only the cause of kidney problem, but mercury also contributes higher risk.

Another research shows that higher sodium intake in soda is associated with greater risk for renal problem. It is recommended for those who have problems with their kidneys to limit and control their consumption of artificially sweetened soda to two servings or less each day. The study eventually confirmed that there was no link between eGFR decline and intake of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Drinking Less Soda Can Reduce the Risk of Renal Failure

Since soda has become more and more popular, it is almost impossible to stop consuming them. Remembering that soda is very dangerous to your kidneys, you can limit the amount of soda intake to decrease your chances of kidney disease leading to kidney failure. But, you are better off keeping soda at bay to prevent your kidneys from renal failure.

References

Shoham D, et al. Sugary Soda Consumption and Albuminuria: Result from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. PLoS ONE, 2008.

Dufault, Renee et al. Mercury from Chlor-alkali Plants: Measured Concentrations in Food Product Sugar. Environmental Health, 2009.

Renal and Urology News.com: Diet Soda, Salt May Harm Kidneys

WebMD.com: Diet Sodas May Be Hard on the Kidneys

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