Association between soft drinks intake and low glomerular filtration rate in Mexican adults: Results from RenMex

To evaluate the association between soft drinks (SDs) consumption and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a Mexican adult population.

We used data from the RenMex consortium (n = 2095) that included the Mexican Teachers Cohort Study (34-65 years), the Health Workers Cohort Study (18-90 years), and the Comitán Study (19-91 years). In this cross-sectional study, we assessed SDs consumption (cola and flavored soda) using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and estimated eGFR using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Quantile regression was used to assess the association between SDs consumption and eGFR with eGFR as a continuous variable. Multinomial logistic regression models were used for eGFR categories derived from quantile regression (mildly decreased eGFR, ≥72.9-87.9 mL/min/1.73 m² and moderately decreased eGFR, <72.9 mL/min/1.73 m²).

Mean age of study participants was 47.2 years, 67.5% were women, and 12.2% had diabetes. eGFR was <60 mL/min/1.73 m² in 3.7% of study participants. Mildly decreased eGFR was present in 14.8%, and moderately decreased eGFR was present in 10.1% of study participants. Quantile regression results showed that SDs consumption was associated with lower eGFR at the 10th, 25th, 50th and 75th percentile. Based on the final adjusted multinomial model, ≥7 servings/week was positively associated with moderately decreased eGFR relative to <1 serving/week (Relative Risk Ratio = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.07-3.57).

Our results suggest that higher SDs consumption is associated with lower eGFR. Encouraging healthy dietary choices should be part of the management and prevention of CKD.