Are You Drinking Enough for Your Kidneys?

Bottoms Up: Hydration is crucial for kidney health, but many American adults fall far short of the recommended daily water intake of 72 ounces for women and 104 ounces for men. New research has found this gap is even larger for Black adults — a group that’s already at higher risk for kidney disease.  

The Study: Researchers had 54 college students (24 Black, 30 white) log their water intake and then take daily urine samples to examine biomarkers of hydration and kidney function. Black participants drank less water overall and exhibited higher levels of biomarkers associated with kidney stress. Black participants also had more concentrated urine — a common sign of chronic mild dehydration. When researchers adjusted for water intake, however, almost 83% of urine stress markers dropped, virtually eliminating the racial disparity.

The Takeaway: The findings suggest that increasing water consumption may reverse at least some kidney stress. Previous research has found that inequitable healthcare access and other social determinants are largely responsible for higher rates of kidney disease among Black Americans, though some genetic factors also play a role.

Keep in Mind: The study was small and included only college students, so the results might not be representative of the broader population.