New research suggests that increased levels of some metabolites in the blood from coffee consumption could cause chronic kidney disease. Some foods and drinks are known to have effects on kidney health. However, the possible biological mechanisms are often unclear. Higher levels of 3 of these related metabolites were significantly associated with a higher risk of developing kidney disease. The study authors identified glycochenodeoxycholate, O-methylcatechol sulfate and 3-methylcatechol sulfate.
Increased blood metabolites and kidney disease from drinking coffee
The research team examined 372 metabolites in the blood of 3811 participants in a cohort study. The scientists found that 41 of these were related to coffee consumption. When the researchers analyzed these values in a further 1043 adults, they linked 20 of them with coffee consumption. Glycochenodeoxycholate is a lipid that is involved in the primary metabolism of bile acid. Accordingly, it can contribute to the potentially beneficial effects of coffee consumption on kidney health. However, O-methylcatechol sulfate and 3-methylcatechol sulfate, which are involved in the metabolism of the preservative benzoate, can represent the negative aspects of coffee. A large body of scientific evidence has shown that consuming a moderate amount of coffee is compatible with a healthy diet. The authors of the study have now been able to identify two other metabolites in the blood associated with coffee that were surprisingly associated with a higher risk of chronic kidney disease.
However, these compounds are also linked to cigarette smoking, according to the researchers. This could partly explain why the study results were linked to a higher risk of kidney disease. With more research on the metabolic basis of the coffee-kidney relationship, these metabolites in the blood may indicate processes that are relevant to the prevention of kidney disease through dietary changes. An accompanying editorial also stated that it would have been interesting to see the results this study on metabolites related to kidney disease after taking into account the participants’ self-reported coffee consumption. The integration of these types of data should enable a better understanding of the role of coffee and other nutritional factors in the development of chronic kidney disease.
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