Effects Of A High Protein Diet On Rbc, Hemoglobin And Hematocrit

Effects of a High Protein Diet on RBC, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit

Dec 21, 2010 | By Andrea Johnson, MA, RD

Red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit are interrelated and are affected by protein intake. Red blood cells are the cells in the body that carry oxygen. Hemoglobin is the component of the red blood cells that contains iron, carries the oxygen and provides the red color to blood cells. Hematocrit refers to the percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells. A high protein diet has an influence on all three since they are all related.

Increase in Oxygen Carrying Capacity

A diet high in protein improves synthesis of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen and iron throughout the blood, explains "Nutrient Timing for Performance" by Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM. If hemoglobin is increased, the cells are able to have more oxygen for energy. Iron is an important component not only for carrying oxygen, but also for helping enzymes to work in many important body processes.

Improved Fluid Balance

Proteins within red blood cells are responsible for maintaining flexibility and durability of the cell, according to the book "Contemporary Nutrition" written by Gordon Wardlaw. A diet high in protein allows for adequate protein to be deposited among the cell walls of red blood cells. This is particularly important in the case of maintaining fluid balance among cells. Lack of fluid balance from a lack of protein in cells leads to infiltration of fluid into the tissues, which results in swelling, otherwise known as edema, in extreme cases.

Increased Hematocrit

Hematocrit is the percent of red blood cells within total blood cells, explains MedlinePlus. The normal range for men is between 42 percent to 52 percent and for women is 35 percent to 47 percent. A high protein diet increases the number of red blood cells, which increases hematocrit. A study in the 1971 "Journal of Nutrition" led by Joseph Edozein assessed hematocrit levels in rats fed varying levels of protein. The higher amount of protein fed to the rats led to higher hematocrit levels, indicating that hematocrit levels are responsive to the amount of protein consumed in the diet.