Mon, May 01, 2023 page3

• Sugary drinks increase kidney, liver disease risk

  DOCTORS WARN: Early signs of the conditions are often overlooked, leading to many people beginning treatment later than they should

  • By Ou Su-mei and Hsu Chuo-hsun / Staff reporters
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  Drinking too many sugary hand-shaken drinks could cause chronic kidney disease or fatty liver disease, doctors said.

  Chen Tsai-feng (陳采峰), chief of the nephrology department at Lee General Hospital’s Dajia Branch in Taichung, said that more than 2 million Taiwanese have chronic kidney disease, but as there are usually no symptoms in its early stages, except foam or bubbles in the urine, many of them begin treatment late.

  Especially during hot weather, many young people drink sugary hand-shaken drinks to quench their thirst, but if they drink more than three cups per week, it could harm their kidneys, he said.

  

  A woman holds a hand-shaken beverage in Tainan on Oct. 5 last year.

  Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times

  Chen said chronic kidney disease has five stages, but in most cases, there are no clear symptoms in the early stages, and a blood test might show normal kidney function, without increased blood creatinine levels or swelling.

  However, foam or bubbles in the urine can be a sign of proteinuria, he said.

  People who realize that they have foam or bubbles in the urine should check whether they disappear within three minutes and, if not, see a doctor, he added.

  Chen said people with hypertension, diabetes, gout or who often take over-the-counter drugs might be at higher risk of chronic kidney disease.

  Giving an example, he said that he had treated a man in his 60s, who previously did not know he had diabetes and often drank sugary beverages.

  The man’s blood sugar level often surged to over 1000 mg per deciliter, or about 10 times the normal blood sugar level, Chen said.

  After four years of medication and dialysis, the man can now keep his blood sugar level in check and no longer needs dialysis, Chen added.

  People who treat their chronic kidney disease with drugs prescribed by a doctor should take their medication regularly, as the condition might otherwise get worse, Chen said, adding that they should also control their blood sugar, blood lipid and blood pressure levels, eat a sufficient amount of vegetables and drink enough water.

  Separately, Chang Tsung-cheng (張琮承), a doctor in the Taipei Hospital’s gastroenterology and hepatology department, said that drinking too many sugary drinks and eating too much deep fried food could cause fatty liver disease, even in teenagers.

  Citing an example of a junior-high school student who weighed more than 100kg and often ate deep fried food and drank sugary drinks, Chang said that diagnosed fatty liver disease and found that the boy’s alanine aminotransferase level was twice the normal level.

  Fatty liver disease is often caused by unhealthy lifestyles, causing excess fat accumulation in the liver, Chang said, urging those with the disease to change their diet and exercise regularly to reduce the fat in their liver.

  National Health Insurance Administration data from 2021 showed that about 33.3 percent of Taiwanese had the condition.

  The share was higher in men and was most commonly diagnosed in people aged 40 to 69, the data showed.

  Chang said fatty liver disease is defined as fat making up 5 percent or more of the liver’s weight.

  The condition is often caused by diets that are high in sugar and fat, excessive alcohol drinking, staying up late and other unhealthy habits.

  As fatty liver disease typically does not cause any symptoms, people are usually diagnosed during a regular health check or when the condition has developed into liver fibrosis, cirrhosis or even liver cancer, he said, adding that if people with fatty liver disease experience liver inflammation, they should get ultrasound scans every six months.

  Fatty liver disease can improve when people eat more food high in fiber, such as fruit and vegetables; food that has a low glycemic index, such as whole grain products; food with monounsaturated fat or omega-3 fatty acids; plant-based protein; and prebiotics, he said.

  People with the condition should avoid drinking alcohol and sugary drinks, and eating fatty, sodium-rich or sugary food, he said, adding that parents should ensure that their children consume enough iron, calcium and vitamin D.
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