Soft drink and sugar consumption can negatively impact kidney health, new studies reveal

(http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-11/ason-sda102913.php) Two recently published studies show the negative effects that soft drink and sugar consumption can have on kidney health

The first study, led by Ryohei Yamamoto, MD, PhD, from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, found that consuming two or more soft drinks per day caused the development of proteinuria, or increased protein in the urine, a common symptom of kidney dysfunction. This study followed nearly 8,000 university employees and found that, after a median of 2.9 years, 8.4% of those who drank zero soft drinks per day, 8.9% who drank one daily and 10.7% who drank two or more sodas per day developed proteinuria.

The second study was led by Agustin Gonzalex-Vicente from Case Western University used rats to examine that effects of sugar on kidney function. The researchers found that moderate fructose intake increases the kidney's sensitivity to angiotensin II, a protein that regulates salt balance. This caused an increase in salt reabsorption by kidney cells, which could explain why high-fructose corn syrup consumption can contribute to diabetes, kidney failure and high blood pressure.