The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial

Abstract

With ageing, there is a greater risk of dehydration. This study investigated the diuretic effect of alcoholic beverages varying in alcohol concentration in elderly men. Three alcoholic beverages (beer (AB), wine (AW), and spirits (S)) and their non-alcoholic counterparts (non-alcoholic beer (NAB), non-alcoholic wine (NAW), and water (W)) were tested in a diet-controlled randomized crossover trial. For the alcoholic beverages, alcohol intake equaled a moderate amount of 30 g. An equal volume of beverage was given for the non-alcoholic counterpart. After consumption, the urine output was collected every hour for 4 h and the total 24 h urine output was measured. AW and S resulted in a higher cumulative urine output compared to NAW and W during the first 4 h (effect size: 0.25 mL p < 0.003, effect size: 0.18 mL, p < 0.001, respectively), but not after the 24h urine collection (p > 0.40, p > 0.10). AB and NAB did not differ at any time point (effect size: −0.02 mL p > 0.70). For urine osmolality, and the sodium and potassium concentration, the findings were in line. In conclusion, only moderate amounts of stronger alcoholic beverages, such as wine and spirits, resulted in a short and small diuretic effect in elderly men.

The Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes Following Weight Loss in Premenopausal Women with Obesity: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

“…It is possible that alcohol consumption may have diuretic action and influence dehydration; however, the extent of these effects is not fully understood. A previous RCT study showed that spirits (consumed at an amount similar to our study) caused only a small and transient diuretic effect at 4 h, and that there were no differences in 24 hr urine output or urine osmolarity when compared to subjects that consumed water [30]. Another study reported that more urine was excreted after 4 h when beer (4% alcohol), compared to the non-alcoholic beverage, was consumed during euhydration (p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between groups during hypohydration (p = 0.06) [31].…”

Hydration in relation to water insecurity, heat index, and lactation status in two small‐scale populations in hot‐humid and hot‐arid environments

“…The fermentation process may also be beneficial for reducing bacterial concentration of water, thereby potentially providing a safer form of hydration (Rosinger & Bethancourt, 2020). High concentrations of alcohol, on the other hand, may have at least small, acute diuretic effects (Polhuis, Wijnen, Sierksma, Calame, & Tieland, 2017), and this may explain why we observed an increased odds of concentrated urine among Daasanach men who reported consuming liquor in the previous week.…”

Effects of Drugs and Excipients on Hydration Status

“…It seems that a moderate consumption of low-grade alcoholic beverages, such as beer, do not compromise HS. However, an increase of either the dose or the alcohol content, may worsen hypohydration [28]. Similarly, caffeinated drinks as well its diuretic effects could also lead to hypohydration.…”