Associations of meat, fish and seafood consumption with kidney function in middle-aged to older Chinese: a cross-sectional study based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the associations of red meat, poultry, fish and seafood and processed meat consumption with kidney function in middle-aged to older Chinese.

Design: A cross-sectional study based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

Setting: Community-based sample.

Participants: 9768 participants (2743 men and 7025 women) aged 50+ years.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: Primary outcome was estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) derived from the Chinese-specific equation based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation (c-aGFR). eGFR derived from the original isotope-dilution mass spectrometry-traceable MDRD study equation, and prevalent chronic kidney disease (CKD) defined as c-aGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m² were considered the secondary outcomes.

Results: After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, education, occupation, family income, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, daily energy intake, self-rated health and chronic disease history (diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia), compared with processed meat consumption of 0-1 portion/week, those who consumed ≥3 portions/week had lower c-aGFR (β=-2.74 mL/min/1.73 m², 95% CI=-4.28 to -1.20) and higher risk of prevalent CKD (OR=1.40, 95% CI=1.09 to 1.80, p<0.0125). Regarding fish and seafood consumption, the associations varied by diabetes (p for interaction=0.02). Fish and seafood consumption of ≥11 portions/week, versus 0-3 portions/week, was non-significantly associated with higher c-aGFR (β=3.62 mL/min/1.73 m², 95% CI=-0.06 to 7.30) in participants with diabetes, but was associated with lower c-aGFR in normoglycaemic participants (β=-1.51 mL/min/1.73 m², 95% CI=-2.81 to -0.20). No significant associations of red meat or poultry consumption with c-aGFR nor prevalent CKD were found. Similar results were found for meat, fish and seafood consumption with eGFR.

Conclusions: Higher processed meat, fish and seafood consumption was associated with lower kidney function in normoglycaemic participants. However, the associations in participants with diabetes warrant further investigation.

Keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES; NUTRITION & DIETETICS; Nephrology.