Researchers from Erasmus University Medical Center have presented findings about coffee and kidney health in young, healthy individuals. Their work suggests that drinking coffee does not damage kidney function in this group and may even influence kidney filtration activity when other risk factors are present. The study appears in the journal Clinical Nutrition, signaling a contribution to the ongoing discussion about how common beverages interact with renal health.
The data stem from the Rotterdam Study, a long-running investigation that began between 1989 and 1993. Over the years, the study expanded with two additional participant cohorts, culminating in a large sample size that reaches around 15,000 people. The broad timeline and sizable population help illuminate patterns related to coffee intake and kidney function across diverse groups. The researchers describe the average consumption as about three cups of coffee per day, with a small fraction, roughly four percent, reporting no coffee intake at all. The profile of coffee consumers skews toward men, who tended to drink larger quantities, and these individuals also showed higher prevalence of smoking, greater alcohol use, and higher overall caloric intake. These lifestyle factors were acknowledged as potential confounders in assessing kidney outcomes, underscoring the complexity of isolating coffee’s direct effects from accompanying behaviors.
Overall, the investigators found no evidence that coffee consumption alters the kidney filtration rate in healthy men and women. In a more nuanced observation, each additional cup of coffee was associated with a lower risk of a decline in kidney function, although this association did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance and thus calls for replication in future research. Importantly, among participants considered at elevated risk for chronic kidney disease—those over 70, individuals with diabetes, or people with obesity—the data suggested a slight uptick in filtration rate with coffee intake. These patterns imply that coffee might have differential implications depending on baseline health status and risk profile, rather than exerting a uniform effect across all populations.
The Rotterdam Study’s design and the breadth of data contribute to a cautious interpretation: coffee appears safe for healthy renal function and may offer modest protective signals in at-risk groups, but the findings do not establish a firm causal link. The researchers emphasize the need for continued investigation to clarify timing, dose, and long-term renal outcomes, particularly in subgroups with higher susceptibility to kidney disease. In practical terms, these results align with general guidance that moderate coffee consumption can be part of a balanced lifestyle for many adults, while also highlighting the importance of managing known risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol use. The study’s conclusions come from careful analysis of large-scale observational data and should be weighed alongside other evidence when forming dietary and health decisions. Agency and accountability for kidney health remains a personal responsibility supported by a clinician’s guidance, individual risk assessment, and ongoing, well-designed research from institutions like Erasmus University Medical Center.