Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCoffee EffectsResearchGenetic Kidney DiseaseKidney StonesKidney CancerHypertension and Kidney DiseaseRecommendations for CKD
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Coffee Effects
Research
Genetic Kidney Disease
Kidney Stones
Kidney Cancer
Hypertension and Kidney Disease
Recommendations for CKD
Research has explored whether coffee is bad for the kidneys as well as otherhealth effects of coffee, such as its impact on ourimmune systemand risks ofheart diseaseandcancer. Based on the current body of research, coffee doesn’t appear to increase the risk of kidney disease, but coffee may affect blood pressure in certain people as well as those with kidney stones.This article discusses coffee’s effect on overall kidney health, as well as kidney disease and kidney cancer.@febrianmarcel / Twenty20Is Coffee Bad for the Kidneys?Numerous studies have concluded that coffee is unlikely to harm the kidneys or causechronic kidney disease (CKD).In fact, research has identified several benefits to consuming a moderate amount of coffee. The caffeine in coffee can improve energy levels and metabolism to aid in fat burning.Coffee is also high in polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) that are associated with a lower risk of health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.However, certain precautions are recommended, such as drinking moderate amounts of coffee and limiting coffee if you have high blood pressure or kidney stones.Studies on Coffee and Kidney DiseasePopulation-based epidemiological studies have tended to show an association between consumption of coffee and possibly aprotectiveeffect onkidney function.A 2022 study concluded people who drank any quantity of coffee every day had a 15% lower risk of kidney injury and people who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily had a 22%–23% lower risk.A meta-analysis published in 2016 showed no association between coffee consumption and increased risk of kidney disease in male participants.However, one study evaluating overweight/obese elderly people with metabolic syndrome found consuming more than 2 cups of caffeinated coffee daily resulted in a decline in kidney function compared to people drinking less than 1 cup daily. However, decaffeinated coffee did not cause a decline in kidney function.The exact mechanism for why coffee might play this protective role is still a subject of active study, but speculation ranges from the role of antioxidants present in coffee to coffee’s purported antidiabetic effect.It is important to note that eating too many high-potassium foods—like bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, avocados, and oranges to name a few—can be hard on the kidneys if you have CKD. The good news is that coffee is in the low-potassium group, making it a safe choice in moderation.Coffee and Genetic Kidney DiseaseIn the past, basic science studies have indicated that caffeine could increase the risk of growth of kidney cysts in patients with autosomal dominantpolycystic kidney disease(PKD).However, in more current clinical studies, consumption of coffee was not noted to be a risk factor for PKD progression.Does Coffee Actually Dehydrate You?Does Coffee Increase the Risk of Kidney Stones?Beyond medical diseases of the kidney, there are still special situations where the intake of coffee might need to be moderated. One such case is people who formkidney stones.Oxalate stones are one of the most common varieties of kidney stones, and it just so happens that one of the main sources of oxalate in our diet is regular coffee (black tea being the other culprit).Therefore, patients with kidney stones, especially those with calcium oxalate stones, should still regard coffee as a possible risk factor.Link Between Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Urine and Kidney StonesDoes Coffee Increase the Risk of Kidney Cancer?The evidence regarding this is quite mixed. Studies have typically indicated a reduced risk ofrenal cell carcinomawith coffee consumption. However, for an unknown reason, this association seems to be true for caffeinated coffee only.Decaffeinated coffee consumption seeminglyincreasesthe risk ofclear cellrenal cell carcinoma subtype, a particular kind of kidney cancer, but more studies need to be done to better understand this potential link.The Relationship Between Coffee, Hypertension, and Kidney DiseaseHigh blood pressure(afterdiabetes) is the biggest cause of kidney disease.There is some evidence that drinking caffeinated coffee could cause ashort-lasting increase in blood pressure, with the effects seemingly exaggerated in older patients and people who are not regular drinkers of coffee.An increase in blood pressure from coffee is seen more frequently in people who already have a history of high blood pressure.Given this possible link between coffee intake and elevated blood pressure, the concern is often raised about coffee’s ability to cause damage to the kidneys. Despite this plausibility, there is evidence to the contrary.Data shows that as long as daily consumption of coffee does not exceed 3 to 4 cups (with each 8-ounce cup having anywhere from 100-200 mg of caffeine), there is no increase in the risk of kidney disease in healthy young subjects.If you have high blood pressure or are at risk for high blood pressure, ask your healthcare provider if it’s safe for you to have caffeine and how much coffee is acceptable.Coffee’s Effect on the KidneysDecaf and HypertensionCoffee has been found to increase nervous system activity as well as blood pressure,independent of its caffeine content.Therefore, the effect of an increase in blood pressure is even seen with decaffeinated coffee, making it appear that there might be something other than caffeine in coffee that could be responsible for this blood pressure elevation.How to Safely Enjoy Coffee With Kidney DiseaseLiving with kidney disease does not mean that you have to cut out coffee entirely. There are ways to safely enjoy coffee:Limit the amount of coffee.Studies indicate consuming less than 3 to 4 cups of coffee daily doesn’t affect kidney health.Skip the cream, creamers and milk.Black coffee is best because cream, non-dairy creamers, and milk contain phosphorus and potassium. When living with kidney disease, the kidneys aren’t able to filter phosphorus and potassium from your blood as well, which can lead to heart complications.Count coffee in your fluid allowance.When living with kidney disease, your kidneys may not be able to filter as much extra fluid from your body. You may need to limit or avoid drinking coffee if it’s causing excess fluid buildup.Choose alternative beverages.If caffeine affects your blood pressure, consider switching to decaf coffee, black tea, and green tea. Teas are lower in caffeine and potassium compared to coffee. And remember that water is the best thing to drink for your kidneys.SummaryCurrent research indicates coffee is unlikely to harm the kidneys or cause chronic kidney disease and several potential health benefits have been identified based on the caffeine and antioxidant content of coffee.However, people with high blood pressure or calcium oxalate kidney stones may need to limit their coffee intake. If you are unsure whether coffee is safe for you to drink, talk to your healthcare provider about how much coffee is acceptable for you.9 Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
Research has explored whether coffee is bad for the kidneys as well as otherhealth effects of coffee, such as its impact on ourimmune systemand risks ofheart diseaseandcancer. Based on the current body of research, coffee doesn’t appear to increase the risk of kidney disease, but coffee may affect blood pressure in certain people as well as those with kidney stones.
This article discusses coffee’s effect on overall kidney health, as well as kidney disease and kidney cancer.
@febrianmarcel / Twenty20
Is Coffee Bad for the Kidneys?
Numerous studies have concluded that coffee is unlikely to harm the kidneys or causechronic kidney disease (CKD).
In fact, research has identified several benefits to consuming a moderate amount of coffee. The caffeine in coffee can improve energy levels and metabolism to aid in fat burning.Coffee is also high in polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) that are associated with a lower risk of health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
However, certain precautions are recommended, such as drinking moderate amounts of coffee and limiting coffee if you have high blood pressure or kidney stones.
Studies on Coffee and Kidney Disease
Population-based epidemiological studies have tended to show an association between consumption of coffee and possibly aprotectiveeffect onkidney function.
A 2022 study concluded people who drank any quantity of coffee every day had a 15% lower risk of kidney injury and people who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily had a 22%–23% lower risk.
A meta-analysis published in 2016 showed no association between coffee consumption and increased risk of kidney disease in male participants.
However, one study evaluating overweight/obese elderly people with metabolic syndrome found consuming more than 2 cups of caffeinated coffee daily resulted in a decline in kidney function compared to people drinking less than 1 cup daily. However, decaffeinated coffee did not cause a decline in kidney function.
The exact mechanism for why coffee might play this protective role is still a subject of active study, but speculation ranges from the role of antioxidants present in coffee to coffee’s purported antidiabetic effect.
It is important to note that eating too many high-potassium foods—like bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, avocados, and oranges to name a few—can be hard on the kidneys if you have CKD. The good news is that coffee is in the low-potassium group, making it a safe choice in moderation.
Coffee and Genetic Kidney Disease
In the past, basic science studies have indicated that caffeine could increase the risk of growth of kidney cysts in patients with autosomal dominantpolycystic kidney disease(PKD).
However, in more current clinical studies, consumption of coffee was not noted to be a risk factor for PKD progression.
Does Coffee Actually Dehydrate You?
Does Coffee Increase the Risk of Kidney Stones?
Beyond medical diseases of the kidney, there are still special situations where the intake of coffee might need to be moderated. One such case is people who formkidney stones.
Oxalate stones are one of the most common varieties of kidney stones, and it just so happens that one of the main sources of oxalate in our diet is regular coffee (black tea being the other culprit).
Therefore, patients with kidney stones, especially those with calcium oxalate stones, should still regard coffee as a possible risk factor.
Link Between Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Urine and Kidney Stones
Does Coffee Increase the Risk of Kidney Cancer?
The evidence regarding this is quite mixed. Studies have typically indicated a reduced risk ofrenal cell carcinomawith coffee consumption. However, for an unknown reason, this association seems to be true for caffeinated coffee only.
Decaffeinated coffee consumption seeminglyincreasesthe risk ofclear cellrenal cell carcinoma subtype, a particular kind of kidney cancer, but more studies need to be done to better understand this potential link.
The Relationship Between Coffee, Hypertension, and Kidney Disease
High blood pressure(afterdiabetes) is the biggest cause of kidney disease.
There is some evidence that drinking caffeinated coffee could cause ashort-lasting increase in blood pressure, with the effects seemingly exaggerated in older patients and people who are not regular drinkers of coffee.
An increase in blood pressure from coffee is seen more frequently in people who already have a history of high blood pressure.
Given this possible link between coffee intake and elevated blood pressure, the concern is often raised about coffee’s ability to cause damage to the kidneys. Despite this plausibility, there is evidence to the contrary.
Data shows that as long as daily consumption of coffee does not exceed 3 to 4 cups (with each 8-ounce cup having anywhere from 100-200 mg of caffeine), there is no increase in the risk of kidney disease in healthy young subjects.
If you have high blood pressure or are at risk for high blood pressure, ask your healthcare provider if it’s safe for you to have caffeine and how much coffee is acceptable.
Coffee’s Effect on the Kidneys
Decaf and Hypertension
Coffee has been found to increase nervous system activity as well as blood pressure,independent of its caffeine content.
Therefore, the effect of an increase in blood pressure is even seen with decaffeinated coffee, making it appear that there might be something other than caffeine in coffee that could be responsible for this blood pressure elevation.
How to Safely Enjoy Coffee With Kidney Disease
Living with kidney disease does not mean that you have to cut out coffee entirely. There are ways to safely enjoy coffee:
Summary
Current research indicates coffee is unlikely to harm the kidneys or cause chronic kidney disease and several potential health benefits have been identified based on the caffeine and antioxidant content of coffee.
However, people with high blood pressure or calcium oxalate kidney stones may need to limit their coffee intake. If you are unsure whether coffee is safe for you to drink, talk to your healthcare provider about how much coffee is acceptable for you.
9 Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, Poole R, et al.Coffee and kidney disease. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(8):e12980.doi: 10.1111/ijcp.12980Sirotkin AV, Kolesárová A.The anti-obesity and health-promoting effects of tea and coffee. Physiol Res. 2021 Apr 30;70(2):161-168. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.934674Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Coffee.Yamagata K.Do Coffee Polyphenols Have a Preventive Action on Metabolic Syndrome Associated Endothelial Dysfunctions? An Assessment of the Current Evidence. Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Feb 4;7(2):26. doi: 10.3390/antiox7020026Tommerdahl KL, Hu EA, Selvin E, et al.Coffee consumption may mitigate the risk for acute kidney injury: results from the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Kidney International Reports. 2022;7(7):1665-1672. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.04.091Wijarnpreecha K, Thongprayoon C, Thamcharoen N, Panjawatanan P, Cheungpasitporn W.Association of coffee consumption and chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis.Int J Clin Pract.2017;71(1) doi:10.1111/ijcp.12919Díaz-López A, Paz-Graniel I, Ruiz V, et al.Consumption of caffeinated beverages and kidney function decline in an elderly Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8719. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88028-7Belibi FA, Wallace DP, Yamaguchi T, Christensen M, Reif G, Grantham JJ.The effect of caffeine on renal epithelial cells from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.J Am Soc Nephrol. 2002;13(11):2723-9. doi:10.1097/01.ASN.0000025282.48298.7BGirardat-rotar L, Puhan MA, Braun J, Serra AL.Long-term effect of coffee consumption on autosomal dominant polycystic kidneys disease progression: results from the Suisse ADPKD, a prospective longitudinal cohort study.J Nephrol. 2018;31(1):87-94. doi:10.1007/s40620-017-0396-8Haghighatdoost F, Sadeghian R, Abbasi B.The Associations Between Tea and Coffee Drinking and Risk of Calcium-Oxalate Renal Stones. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021 Dec;76(4):516-522. doi: 10.1007/s11130-021-00933-4Antwi SO, Eckel-passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma.Cancer Causes Control. 2017;28(8):857-866. doi:10.1007/s10552-017-0913-zHarvard Medical School.Coffee and your blood pressure.Center for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ. 2017 Nov 22;359:j5024. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5024Additional ReadingAntwi SO, Eckel-Passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Causes Control. 2017 Aug;28(8)
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, Poole R, et al.Coffee and kidney disease. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(8):e12980.doi: 10.1111/ijcp.12980Sirotkin AV, Kolesárová A.The anti-obesity and health-promoting effects of tea and coffee. Physiol Res. 2021 Apr 30;70(2):161-168. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.934674Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Coffee.Yamagata K.Do Coffee Polyphenols Have a Preventive Action on Metabolic Syndrome Associated Endothelial Dysfunctions? An Assessment of the Current Evidence. Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Feb 4;7(2):26. doi: 10.3390/antiox7020026Tommerdahl KL, Hu EA, Selvin E, et al.Coffee consumption may mitigate the risk for acute kidney injury: results from the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Kidney International Reports. 2022;7(7):1665-1672. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.04.091Wijarnpreecha K, Thongprayoon C, Thamcharoen N, Panjawatanan P, Cheungpasitporn W.Association of coffee consumption and chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis.Int J Clin Pract.2017;71(1) doi:10.1111/ijcp.12919Díaz-López A, Paz-Graniel I, Ruiz V, et al.Consumption of caffeinated beverages and kidney function decline in an elderly Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8719. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88028-7Belibi FA, Wallace DP, Yamaguchi T, Christensen M, Reif G, Grantham JJ.The effect of caffeine on renal epithelial cells from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.J Am Soc Nephrol. 2002;13(11):2723-9. doi:10.1097/01.ASN.0000025282.48298.7BGirardat-rotar L, Puhan MA, Braun J, Serra AL.Long-term effect of coffee consumption on autosomal dominant polycystic kidneys disease progression: results from the Suisse ADPKD, a prospective longitudinal cohort study.J Nephrol. 2018;31(1):87-94. doi:10.1007/s40620-017-0396-8Haghighatdoost F, Sadeghian R, Abbasi B.The Associations Between Tea and Coffee Drinking and Risk of Calcium-Oxalate Renal Stones. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021 Dec;76(4):516-522. doi: 10.1007/s11130-021-00933-4Antwi SO, Eckel-passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma.Cancer Causes Control. 2017;28(8):857-866. doi:10.1007/s10552-017-0913-zHarvard Medical School.Coffee and your blood pressure.Center for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ. 2017 Nov 22;359:j5024. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5024Additional ReadingAntwi SO, Eckel-Passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Causes Control. 2017 Aug;28(8)
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, Poole R, et al.Coffee and kidney disease. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(8):e12980.doi: 10.1111/ijcp.12980Sirotkin AV, Kolesárová A.The anti-obesity and health-promoting effects of tea and coffee. Physiol Res. 2021 Apr 30;70(2):161-168. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.934674Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Coffee.Yamagata K.Do Coffee Polyphenols Have a Preventive Action on Metabolic Syndrome Associated Endothelial Dysfunctions? An Assessment of the Current Evidence. Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Feb 4;7(2):26. doi: 10.3390/antiox7020026Tommerdahl KL, Hu EA, Selvin E, et al.Coffee consumption may mitigate the risk for acute kidney injury: results from the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Kidney International Reports. 2022;7(7):1665-1672. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.04.091Wijarnpreecha K, Thongprayoon C, Thamcharoen N, Panjawatanan P, Cheungpasitporn W.Association of coffee consumption and chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis.Int J Clin Pract.2017;71(1) doi:10.1111/ijcp.12919Díaz-López A, Paz-Graniel I, Ruiz V, et al.Consumption of caffeinated beverages and kidney function decline in an elderly Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8719. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88028-7Belibi FA, Wallace DP, Yamaguchi T, Christensen M, Reif G, Grantham JJ.The effect of caffeine on renal epithelial cells from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.J Am Soc Nephrol. 2002;13(11):2723-9. doi:10.1097/01.ASN.0000025282.48298.7BGirardat-rotar L, Puhan MA, Braun J, Serra AL.Long-term effect of coffee consumption on autosomal dominant polycystic kidneys disease progression: results from the Suisse ADPKD, a prospective longitudinal cohort study.J Nephrol. 2018;31(1):87-94. doi:10.1007/s40620-017-0396-8Haghighatdoost F, Sadeghian R, Abbasi B.The Associations Between Tea and Coffee Drinking and Risk of Calcium-Oxalate Renal Stones. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021 Dec;76(4):516-522. doi: 10.1007/s11130-021-00933-4Antwi SO, Eckel-passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma.Cancer Causes Control. 2017;28(8):857-866. doi:10.1007/s10552-017-0913-zHarvard Medical School.Coffee and your blood pressure.Center for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ. 2017 Nov 22;359:j5024. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5024
Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, Poole R, et al.Coffee and kidney disease. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71(8):e12980.
doi: 10.1111/ijcp.12980
Sirotkin AV, Kolesárová A.The anti-obesity and health-promoting effects of tea and coffee. Physiol Res. 2021 Apr 30;70(2):161-168. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.934674
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Coffee.
Yamagata K.Do Coffee Polyphenols Have a Preventive Action on Metabolic Syndrome Associated Endothelial Dysfunctions? An Assessment of the Current Evidence. Antioxidants (Basel). 2018 Feb 4;7(2):26. doi: 10.3390/antiox7020026
Tommerdahl KL, Hu EA, Selvin E, et al.Coffee consumption may mitigate the risk for acute kidney injury: results from the atherosclerosis risk in communities study. Kidney International Reports. 2022;7(7):1665-1672. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.04.091
Wijarnpreecha K, Thongprayoon C, Thamcharoen N, Panjawatanan P, Cheungpasitporn W.Association of coffee consumption and chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis.Int J Clin Pract.2017;71(1) doi:10.1111/ijcp.12919
Díaz-López A, Paz-Graniel I, Ruiz V, et al.Consumption of caffeinated beverages and kidney function decline in an elderly Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8719. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88028-7
Belibi FA, Wallace DP, Yamaguchi T, Christensen M, Reif G, Grantham JJ.The effect of caffeine on renal epithelial cells from patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.J Am Soc Nephrol. 2002;13(11):2723-9. doi:10.1097/01.ASN.0000025282.48298.7B
Girardat-rotar L, Puhan MA, Braun J, Serra AL.Long-term effect of coffee consumption on autosomal dominant polycystic kidneys disease progression: results from the Suisse ADPKD, a prospective longitudinal cohort study.J Nephrol. 2018;31(1):87-94. doi:10.1007/s40620-017-0396-8
Haghighatdoost F, Sadeghian R, Abbasi B.The Associations Between Tea and Coffee Drinking and Risk of Calcium-Oxalate Renal Stones. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2021 Dec;76(4):516-522. doi: 10.1007/s11130-021-00933-4
Antwi SO, Eckel-passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma.Cancer Causes Control. 2017;28(8):857-866. doi:10.1007/s10552-017-0913-z
Harvard Medical School.Coffee and your blood pressure.
Center for Science in the Public Interest.Caffeine chart.
Poole R, Kennedy OJ, Roderick P, et al.Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ. 2017 Nov 22;359:j5024. doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5024
Antwi SO, Eckel-Passow JE, Diehl ND, et al.Coffee consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Causes Control. 2017 Aug;28(8)
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