If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop kidney problems. Your kidney function can also be influenced by what you eat, including the amount of amino acids in your diet. Too many amino acids can exacerbate kidney problems, so talk to your doctor before increasing your protein intake or taking amino acid supplements if you have kidney disease.
Amino Acid Physiology
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and your body can synthesize some amino acids from other molecules. Much of the amino acids in your body come from proteins that you eat, which are broken down by your digestive tract so that the individual amino acids can be absorbed. Some of the amino acids from your diet are used to make proteins, and amino acids can also be converted into other substances, such as hormones and neurotransmitters. Excess amino acids are burned for energy.
Amino Acids and Kidney
When your body breaks down amino acids to use them for energy, a substance known as urea is produced. Too much urea in your body can cause health problems, so if you eat a large amount of protein or amino acids, you will need to eliminate the excess urea. Your kidneys excrete urea into your urine. If you have diabetes, the elevated blood glucose levels can damage your kidneys, making it harder for them to excrete urea from your blood. Eating too much protein can exacerbate your kidney problems, speeding the progression of your kidney disease.
Urinary Amino Acids and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, the levels of different kinds of amino acids that appear in your urine may change. According to a study published in a 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Clinical Cases and Investigations," people with type 2 diabetes have elevated levels of many amino acids in their urine. This could be a sign of kidney disease before other clinical signs of kidney failure are measurable. Or, the elevated amino acids levels could contribute to the kidney impairment. More research needs to be done on the effects of amino acids on kidney function.
Considerations
If you have diabetes, you need to be careful about the foods that you eat, including their protein content. Diabetics often have poor kidney function, and eating too much protein or taking amino acid supplements could make your kidney problems worse. Before making significant changes to your diet or taking supplements, talk to your doctor. Blood tests can be done to check the health of your kidneys.
