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 m ² 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 m ², 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 m ², 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 m ², 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.