Whether you are looking to lose weight or increase your bulk, you may find yourself looking at high-protein diets as a means to achieve your goals. Regardless of your expected results, you should be aware that there may be some serious health dangers associated with these types of diets including impaired kidney function. Before starting a high-protein diet, be sure to consult with your primary care provider to ensure that you are not at risk of developing any health problems.
Kidney Function
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs the size of your fist that are located in your lower back on either side of your spine. Kidneys are responsible for the filtering, or removal, of unnecessary components and toxins in your blood through excretion in your urine. Certain diseases and conditions can cause damage to your kidneys, which results in the loss of their filtering capacity and causes the harmful buildup of toxic molecules. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, complete loss of kidney function requires blood dialysis or kidney transplant in order to survive.
High-Protein Diet
There are several types of high-protein diets including diets for weight loss and the use of protein shakes for bodybuilding. The majority of dietary protein comes in the form of animal-derived products, including meats, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. Other sources include legumes like beans and peas, nuts, seeds and tofu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should only get about 10 to 35 percent of your total daily caloric intake from protein. For most adults, this means about 46 to 56 g of protein per day. However, the CDC points out that most Americans get more protein in their diet than is necessary.
Kidney Function and Protein
Normal kidney function removes the buildup of toxic and unusable molecules from the blood but typically leaves protein. However, excessive protein in the urine is a condition known as proteinuria and may be a signal of deteriorating kidney function. MayoClinic.com com also points out that those with kidney problems may have trouble removing all of the metabolic byproducts of protein metabolism.
Controversy
While there is some speculation that a high-protein diet may harm your kidneys, there may not be enough evidence to support these claims. In a letter published in a 2004 issue of "Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation," Drs. Valerie A. Luyckx and Tara A. Mardigan argue that high-protein diets may contribute to proteinuria and the decline of kidney function. However, that argument is contentious and "there is certainly no scientific evidence ... in real world examples," explains Dr. Anssi H. Manninen in a 2005 issue of "Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation." Regardless of the true health effects, always talk to your doctor or dietitian before starting a high-protein diet.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; The Kidneys and How They Work
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protein
- Mayo Clinic: High-Protein Diets: Are They Safe?
- "Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation"; High protein diets may be hazardous for the kidneys; Valerie A. Luyckx and Tara A. Mardigan; 2004
- "Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation"; High-protein diets are not hazardous for the healthy kidneys; Anssi H. Manninen; 2005
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