Can patients with nephrotic syndrome drink coffee?

Under normal circumstances, patients with nephrotic syndrome are not advised to drink coffee.

Caffeine is primarily metabolized through the liver and excreted via the kidneys. In individuals with normal kidney function, moderate caffeine intake does not place a significant burden on the kidneys. However, in patients with nephrotic syndrome whose kidney function may already be impaired, the metabolism and excretion of caffeine may slow down, leading to prolonged retention of caffeine in the body and possibly causing adverse reactions such as increased heart rate and insomnia. Therefore, drinking coffee is not recommended.

Additionally, patients with nephrotic syndrome often have damaged glomeruli, which leads to the loss of proteins through the filtration membrane into the urine, resulting in significant albuminuria and subsequently reduced plasma colloid osmotic pressure, causing symptoms such as edema. At this time, excessive coffee consumption may worsen edema due to the fluid and caffeine content in coffee, which is unfavorable for managing the condition.

In daily life, patients with nephrotic syndrome are advised to choose other safer beverages and maintain healthy dietary habits and lifestyle practices to promote recovery and stabilize their condition.