Study Finds Caffeine May Reduce Mortality Rate Among People With CKD

‍

“Consuming more caffeine may help reduce the risk of death for people with Chronic Kidney Disease,”  ‍

Claims a report entitled "Caffeine consumption and mortality in chronic kidney disease: a nationally representative analysis" published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation by a research team from Portugal led by study Author Miguel Bigotte Vieira M.D. The report says they believe this may be due to a possible protective effect that caffeine has at the vascular level.  Caffeine may promote the release of substances such as nitric oxide that help to improve the function of blood vessels.  

Approximately 89% of adults in the U.S. population consume some form of caffeine; 14% of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) which is expected to continue to rise in populations worldwide.  There is a higher risk of death among people with CKD and the disease is associated with higher health care costs.  The research team says further studies are needed, but perhaps caffeine may be a simple and low cost addition to the care plan for patients with chronic kidney disease, helping to reduce mortality rates among them.

The research team studied data on 4,863 non-institutionalized U.S. adults diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease.  Data was analyzed using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2010.  The study authors excluded those with stage 5 CKD and those on dialysis.  The consumption of caffeine was evaluated by dietary recall.  The participants provided details about their caffeine consumption during a 24 hour period at the beginning of their participation in the study.  The source of the caffeine was also included in the study data, listing how the caffeine was consumed; such as from coffee, tea, or a soft drink.  Deaths among participants were then tracked through the end of 2011.  

The research team concluded that compared to people who consumed less caffeine, patients that consumed higher levels of caffeine presented a nearly 25% reduction in the risk of death over a follow up of 60 months.   The authors of the study made the following statement at the study’s conclusion, “

‍Caffeine consumption appears to be safe through different stages of kidney disease”.  

Dr. Vieira M.D. had this to say about the study,

“Our study showed a protective effect of caffeine consumption among patients with chronic kidney disease.  The reduction of mortality was present even after considering other important factors such as age, gender, race, smoking, other diseases, and diet”.

His statement continued, saying “These results suggest that advising patients with kidney disease to drink more caffeine may reduce their mortality.  This would represent a simple, clinically beneficial and inexpensive option although this benefit should ideally be confirmed in a randomized clinical trial”.   Dr. Vieira emphasized that this observational study from his team cannot prove that caffeine reduces the risk of death in patients with chronic kidney disease.  It only suggests the possibility of such a protective effect”.      

‍

Video

‍

Related Article

What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

‍

References

Caffeine Is Linked to Lower Risk of Death in Those With Chronic Kidney Disease

Caffeine consumption and mortality in chronic kidney disease: a nationally representative analysis - new study reports caffeine can reduce mortality in chronic kidney disease

Caffeine consumption and mortality in chronic kidney disease: a nationally representative analysis

‍

‍

About the Author

Monica McCarthy has bachelors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Central Washington University.  A majority of her career was spent as a political consultant.   She currently works at KidneyLuv as a staff writer.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.

‍