The Impact of Excessive Fructose Consumption on Kidney Health: A Narrative Review

Authors

  • Ahmad Yani Universitas Muhammadiyah Palu
  • Putri Yayasan Administrasi Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61194/jrkpk.v2i2.665

Keywords:

Fructose Metabolism, Chronic Kidney Disease, Uric Acid, Oxidative Stress, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Public Health Policy, Insulin Resistance

Abstract

Fructose consumption has increased markedly in recent decades, paralleling the global rise in chronic kidney disease (CKD). This narrative review examines how excessive fructose intake impairs renal function through pathways involving oxidative stress, inflammation, uric acid metabolism, and insulin resistance. Peer reviewed studies from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were analyzed to explore the biological mechanisms linking fructose to renal dysfunction. The review reveals that high fructose diets especially those involving artificial sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup exacerbate kidney damage, promote hypertension, and accelerate fibrosis. Countries with high fructose intake show increased CKD prevalence, underscoring the urgency of public health responses. Although sugar reduction policies such as taxation and labeling regulations have shown promise, gaps remain in understanding long term metabolic effects and genetic interactions. Future research should focus on targeted interventions to mitigate fructose induced kidney injury. This study emphasizes the need for immediate, evidence based dietary and policy strategies to address the global burden of fructose related kidney disease.

References

Andres‐Hernando A, Orlicky DJ, Cicerchi C, Kuwabara M, García G, Nakagawa T, et al. High Fructose Corn Syrup Accelerates Kidney Disease and Mortality in Obese Mice With Metabolic Syndrome. Biomolecules. 2023;13(5):780.

Meléndez-Salcido CG, Ramı́rez-Emiliano J, Pérez‐Vázquez V. Hypercaloric Diet Promotes Metabolic Disorders and Impaired Kidney Function. Curr Pharm Des. 2022;28(38):3127–39.

Mei Y, Dong B, Geng Z, Xu L. Excess Uric Acid Induces Gouty Nephropathy Through Crystal Formation: A Review of Recent Insights. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13.

Soleimani M, Barone S, Luo H, Zahedi K. Pathogenesis of Hypertension in Metabolic Syndrome: The Role of Fructose and Salt. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(5):4294.

Bier A, Shapira E, Khasbab R, Sharabi Y, Grossman E, Leibowitz A. High-Fructose Diet Increases Renal ChREBPβ Expression, Leading to Intrarenal Fat Accumulation in a Rat Model With Metabolic Syndrome. Biology (Basel). 2022;11(4):618.

García‐Arroyo FE, Tapia E, Muñoz-Jiménez I, Gonzaga-Sánchez G, Arellano‐Buendía AS, Osorio‐Alonso H, et al. Fluid Intake Restriction Concomitant to Sweetened Beverages Hydration Induce Kidney Damage. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020;2020:1–11.

Dwyer KM, Robson B, Muecke J. Too Much Sugar Does Not Just Make Us Fat; It Can Also Make Us Sick. Intern Med J. 2022;52(6):1089–92.

Chan CW, Lin B. Folate Deficiency Enhanced Inflammation and Exacerbated Renal Fibrosis in High-Fat High-Fructose Diet-Fed Mice. Nutrients. 2023;15(16):3616.

Zhang X, Wu Y, Miao L. Study on the Effects of Individualized Nutritional Intervention on Pregnancy Outcome and Neonatal Immune Function in Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022(1).

Aroor AR, Jia G, Habibi J, Sun Z, Ramirez‐Perez FI, Brady B, et al. Uric Acid Promotes Vascular Stiffness, Maladaptive Inflammatory Responses and Proteinuria in Western Diet Fed Mice. Metabolism. 2017;74:32–40.

Strambi M, Giussani M, Ambruzzi MA, Brambilla P, Corrado C, Giordano U, et al. Novelty in Hypertension in Children and Adolescents: Focus on Hypertension During the First Year of Life, Use and Interpretation of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, Role of Physical Activity in Prevention and Treatment, Simple Carbohydrates and Uric Acid as Risk Factors. Ital J Pediatr. 2016;42(1).

Yang M, Liu C, Jiang J, Zuo G, Lin X, Yamahara J, et al. Ginger Extract Diminishes Chronic Fructose Consumption-Induced Kidney Injury Through Suppression of Renal Overexpression of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014;14(1).

Komnenov D, Levanovich P, Rossi NF. Hypertension Associated With Fructose and High Salt: Renal and Sympathetic Mechanisms. Nutrients. 2019;11(3):569.

Thongnak L, Pengrattanachot N, Promsan S, Phengpol N, Sutthasupha P, Chatsudthipong V, et al. The Combination of Dapagliflozin and Statins Ameliorates Renal Injury Through Attenuating the Activation of Inflammasome‐mediated Autophagy in Insulin‐resistant Rats. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2021;36(4).

Johnson RJ, Bakris GL, Borghi C, Chonchol MB, Feldman DL, Lanaspa MA, et al. Hyperuricemia, Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease: Report of a Scientific Workshop Organized by the National Kidney Foundation. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. 2018;71(6):851–65.

Chaudhary K, Malhotra K, Sowers JR, Aroor AR. Uric Acid - Key Ingredient in the Recipe for Cardiorenal Metabolic Syndrome. Cardiorenal Med. 2013;3(3):208–20.

Student J, Sowers JR, Lockette W. THIRSTY FOR FRUCTOSE: Arginine Vasopressin, Fructose, and the Pathogenesis of Metabolic and Renal Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9.

Naumann J, Biehler D, Lüty T, Sadaghiani C. Prevention and Therapy of Type 2 Diabetes—What Is the Potential of Daily Water Intake and Its Mineral Nutrients? Nutrients. 2017;9(8):914.

Yang Y, Yu G, Pan J, Kreps GL. Public Trust in Sources and Channels on Judgment Accuracy in Food Safety Misinformation With the Moderation Effect of Self‐affirmation: Evidence From the HINTS‐China Database. World Med Health Policy. 2022;15(2):148–62.

Gharaei FK, Lakzaei H, Niazi AA, Jahantigh M, Shahraki MR, Safari T. The Protective Effects of Eugenol on Metabolic-Syndrome, Renal Damages. J Renal Inj Prev. 2020;11(1):e4–e4.

Hamada S, Takata T, Yamada K, Yamamoto M, Mae Y, Iyama T, et al. Steatosis Is Involved in the Progression of Kidney Disease in a High-Fat-Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Mouse Model. PLoS One. 2022;17(3):e0265461.

Gao Y, Li CC, Li J, Duan M, Li X, Zhao L, et al. Weizmannia Coagulans BC99 Alleviates Hyperuricemia and Oxidative Stress via DAF-16/SKN-1 Activation in Caenorhabditis Elegan. Front Microbiol. 2024;15.

Milutinović D V, Brkljačić J, Teofilović A, Bursać B, Nikolić M, Gligorovska L, et al. Chronic Stress Potentiates High Fructose–Induced Lipogenesis in Rat Liver and Kidney. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2020;64(13).

Liang H, Song K. Elucidating Ascorbate and Aldarate Metabolism Pathway Characteristics via Integration of Untargeted Metabolomics and Transcriptomics of the Kidney of High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Mice. PLoS One. 2024;19(4):e0300705.

Pokrywczyńska M, Flisiński M, Jundziłł A, Krzyzanowska S, Brymora A, Deptuła A, et al. Impact of Fructose Diet and Renal Failure on the Function of Pancreatic Islets. Pancreas. 2014;43(5):801–8.

Peng D, Tang S, Hu Y, Chen J, Yang L. Pathophysiological Model of Chronic Heart Failure Complicated With Renal Failure Caused by Three-Quarter Nephrectomy and Subcutaneous Injection of Isoprenaline. Exp Ther Med. 2012;5(3):835–9.

Li X, Shek DTL, Shek EYW. Offline Victimization, Psychological Morbidity, and Problematic Online Behavior Among Chinese Secondary School Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(18):9462.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-31

Issue

Section

Articles