A new study found that 2-3 cups of coffee a day reduce kidney damage. 14,207 adults ages 45 – 64 were followed for a median period of 24 years.
The researchers concentrated on the onset of acute kidney disease and on the consumption of coffee. They found there were 5 categories:
27% never consumed any coffee
14% drank less than one cup of coffee per day
19% consumed one cup of coffee per day
23% drank 2-3 cups per day
17% drank more than 3 cups of coffee per day
Results of the acute kidney injury study
In order to define acute kidney injury, the researchers looked through hospital records with the International Classification of Diseases code. They detected 1,694 cases of incidents of acute kidney injury over a 24-year period. Patients who consumed any coffee had 11% less acute kidney injury than those who never drank any coffee. There was a dose-dependent relationship between kidney damage and coffee consumption. The researchers found the most reduction of kidney damage in the group who drank 2-3 cups of coffee per day. Their incidence reduction of acute kidney injury was 23%.
Coffee’s protective effect
What component of coffee may be responsible for the beneficial effect of coffee? Coffee contains caffeine, chlorogenic acid and diterpenes as the major biologically active compounds. Chlorogenic acid was described by researchers as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and a neuroprotector. This is the reason why habitual coffee consumption prevents chronic degenerative conditions, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine, the major compound in coffee improves kidney function and prevents chronic kidney disease.
Is coffee healthy for the heart?
For years physicians believed that coffee consumption was bad for your heart. However, newer studies showed that the opposite is true: regular coffee consumption protects you from heart disease. In a Brazilian study 4,426 adults with an average age of 50 were classified by the amount of coffee consumed daily. Three groups were defined as follows: those consuming fewer than one cup of coffee per day, next those who drank one to three cups per day, and finally those who drank more than three cups of coffee daily. The researchers also performed CT scans of the coronary arteries to determine the amount of calcification. Researchers achieved statistical significance only in non-smokers. Persons who never smoked and who consumed 3 cups of coffee per day had 63% less risk to develop coronary artery calcification. The researchers compared this group to the “one cup of coffee per day” group.
2-3 Cups of Coffee a Day Reduce Kidney Damage
Conclusion
In the past physicians believed that coffee consumption would be bad for you. But newer studies showed that they were wrong. The opposite is true. Consuming 3 cups of coffee keeps your coronary arteries open and prevents heart disease. Another recent study showed that consuming 2-3 cups of coffee per day reduces acute kidney disease. In this study the finding was that 2-3 cups of coffee per day reduced acute kidney disease by 23%. The beneficial effect is likely due to the effect of caffeine, chlorogenic acid and diterpenes as the major biologically active compounds of coffee. Regular coffee consumption reduces the risk of heart attacks and the development of acute kidney disease. I have incorporated regular coffee consumption into my lifestyle long time ago.
