New research claims that drinking too much water killed Bruce Lee

The paper proposes that Lee's kidneys failed to excrete water quickly and efficiently enough

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  November 22, 2022 | 1:15pm
Aux News Bruce Lee
New research claims that drinking too much water killed Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee statue Photo: MN Chan

50 years after the death of Bruce Lee, a team of researchers is taking a second look at the cause. Though Lee’s official cause of death is the result of cerebral edema or brain swelling, what this new research supposes is maybe he didn’t. A research paper from the Clinical Kidney Journal proposes that “the kidney’s inability to excrete excess water killed Bruce Lee.”

Lee had multiple risk factors for hyponatraemia that may have included high chronic fluid intake, factors that acutely increase thirst (marijuana) and factors that decrease the ability of the kidneys to excrete water by either promoting secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or interfering with water excretion mechanisms in kidney tubules: prescription drugs (diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, antiepileptic drugs), alcohol, chronic low solute intake, a past history of acute kidney injury and exercise.

The theory is no worse than many others surrounding Lee’s mysterious death, including an ancient family curse, assassination by the Japanese mafia, and poisoning. Others blame the aspirin he took to relieve a headache shortly before his death. But, per Variety, the 2018 book Bruce Lee, A Life blamed heat exhaustion due to the excessive heat in Hong Kong that day. Variety continues:

The study hypothesized that although he had not consumed a huge amount
of water, his kidneys were potentially not able to handle even normal
amounts of fluid. In addition, he had reportedly been existing on a
near-liquid diet of mostly juices.

Ultimately, the paper lays the blame on kidney dysfunction that can lead to “hyponatremia, cerebral edema, and death within hours if excess water intake is not matched by water excretion in urine, which is in line with the timeline of Lee’s demise.”

Given that hyponatraemia is frequent, as is found in up to 40% of hospitalized persons and may cause death due to excessive water ingestion even in young healthy persons, there is a need for a wider dissemination of the concept that excessive water intake can kill. The fact that we are 60% water does not protect us from the potentially lethal consequences of drinking water at a faster rate than our kidneys can excrete excess water.

The irony of drinking water taking out cinema’s greatest fighter was not lost on the researchers who noted, “Ironically, Lee made famous the quote ‘Be water my friend,’ but excess water appears to have ultimately killed him.” There’s no need to pour salt on the wound.

 
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