Can a high protein diet damage the kidneys or other organs?

[reefedjib]

I was talking with a friend who diets pretty heavily, conventionally (balanced food groups, low calorie), and she claims that a high-protein diet can damage the kidneys. Anything to that?

[Josselyn]

I was talking with a friend who diets pretty heavily, conventionally (balanced food groups, low calorie), and she claims that a high-protein diet can damage the kidneys. Anything to that?

Not really true, no...but that doesn't endorse eating huge amounts of protein. One's diet would have to be extreme and prolonged to cause such a strong ketosis response as to damage one's kidneys like that.

You didn't ask, but as an aside, low(er) carb doesn't necessarily mean ingesting endless protein...nor does it mean the diet isn't "balanced."

I'm certain there are many others here who can give a great deal of supporting info in answering this question. Me? I'm too sleepy to be that detailed right now. :o

[reefedjib]

Thanks for your response Josselyn! I am pretty tired myself, but this came up while we were chatting tonight. As it turns out, she has had a cyst (benign) on her kidney since 1995. Her doctor told her a high-protein diet would be bad for her kidneys.

I suppose it's best to have a balanced meal with low-carb. So meat, green veggies, low-carb sauces. In dividing these items into food groups, I can see the meat is fat and protein. low-carb sauces is mainly fat. What is green veggies? Mainly fiber carbs that don't convert to glucose? Just wondering.

Cheers!

[ShottleBop]

The best things you can do to conserve kidney health are (1) control your blood sugar levels, and (2) control your blood pressure.

From the National Kidney Foundation (http://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/ckd/keeping.cfm): Keeping in good blood glucose control is important for lowering your risk for health complications. Glucose, often described as sugar, is made by the body, usually after eating, and serves as the fuel for every body cell. Diabetes mellitus, either type 1 or type 2, is the leading cause of kidney disease. When blood glucose levels stay high and uncontrolled over a period of time, blood flow to the kidneys is impaired, resulting in damage to the kidneys and their important functions. In addition, high blood glucose levels will lower the ability of the nerves to empty the bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder may then cause added pressure to build up, and may injure the kidneys.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Disease?

In order to prevent or delay kidney disease from developing, you must be aware of its early and late stage signs and symptoms. The presence of albumin (a type of body protein) in the urine is the first sign of kidney disease, even before abnormalities in blood are found. Albumin in your urine may also be an early sign of changes in your blood. Other early signs of potential problems with kidney function include frequent trips to the bathroom and high blood pressure. Treatment at these early stages may lower the likelihood that kidney disease will progress to kidney failure. Later symptoms of kidney disease include edema (swelling of legs and ankles) and leg cramps. Changes in blood are found at this time, such as high levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN is a substance your body makes when it uses protein) and lowering of the glomeruler filtration rate (GFR), which identifies your current level of kidney function. You may also feel tired and weak, which may be a sign of anemia (low red blood cell count). Other people may experience nausea and vomiting, or have itchy skin. Lastly, you may notice that you need less insulin or diabetes medication taken by mouth, since the diseased kidneys cannot break down or metabolize the insulin, and your body does not need as much.

The Link Between Diabetes, Kidney and Heart Disease

The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease; having both diabetes and kidney disease increases your risk. It is well known that high blood glucose levels that stay high over a period of time create changes in the blood vessels, leading eventually to heart disease. On the other hand, the relationship between kidney disease and heart disease is complex, and seems to be related to many factors, including anemia, malnutrition, or infections, as well as mineral and bone disorders.

What Can You Do to Lower Your Risk?

Being involved in your treatment plan is essential! Checking your blood glucose levels at home and making sure that your hemoglobin A1C (a blood test that tells how well your blood glucose has been controlled over the last few months) is less than seven percent is first and foremost. Keeping in good glucose control is the best way to lower your risk of both kidney and heart disease. Follow-up with your primary care doctor or endocrinologist (a doctor specializing in diabetes) to make sure that you have your urine tested at least once a year to find any early changes in kidney function. You should also have your blood checked regularly for calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (bone hormone) to be sure that your bones are healthy. Other tests should include your total blood count (so that anemia can be treated early), as well as blood cholesterol type and level. Make sure you have your blood pressure checked often, and remember to take blood pressure medication if prescribed. Follow your diet for weight and blood glucose control, and get plenty of regular exercise. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. If you have any of the symptoms identified above, you should see your doctor immediately.

[HelenM]

I did a search on the site mentioned by the previous poster and came up with this 'summary' of research about protein and kidney health.
NKF KDOQI GUIDELINES (http://www.kidney.org/professionals/kdoqi/guideline_diabetes/guide5.htm)
Its far to dense to read quickly but a cursory read suggests that for some people with diabetes a moderate protein diet may be preferable.
For me this was very relevant.
Emerging epidemiological evidence indicates that higher protein intake (≥20% versus 10% of total daily calories) is associated with loss of kidney function in women with mild kidney insufficiency (defined as estimated GFR < 80 and > 55 mL/min/1.73 m2) and development of microalbuminuria in people with diabetes and hypertension.197,198

I had read before that the Nurses Health study reported that women with mild impairment faired better on a lower protein diet. What I hadn't read was the level at which kidney impairment was defined.
From a personal point of view, my last GFR was 68, I have never had any microalbuninuria butthat level is right it the middle of the bracket. Kidney function will also naturally deteriorate as I get older My doctor has not expressed concern except for putting me on a low dose of Aprovel. Seeing the actual figures confirms my own thoughts that a moderate protein intake would be (for me ) prudent.

[BlueSky]

You have to eat a lot of protein to get over 20% of your calories from it. People who eat low carb (less than 50 grams of carbohydrate a day) get about 75% of their calories from fat, 20% from protein and 5% from carbohydrate.

[reefedjib]

The best things you can do to conserve kidney health are (1) control your blood sugar levels, and (2) control your blood pressure.

Its far to dense to read quickly but a cursory read suggests that for some people with diabetes a moderate protein diet may be preferable.
For me this was very relevant.

You have to eat a lot of protein to get over 20% of your calories from it. People who eat low carb (less than 50 grams of carbohydrate a day) get about 75% of their calories from fat, 20% from protein and 5% from carbohydrate.

Thanks all for your responses. I find it interesting that they state that over 20% of calories from protein can cause damage. I was thinking of going on a steak diet! :)

[ShottleBop]

This comes from Dr. Bernstein's book, The Diabetes Solution: If you are a long-standing diabetic and are frustrated with the care you’ve received over the years, you have probably been conditioned to think that protein is more of a poison than sugar and is the cause of kidney disease. I was conditioned the same way—many years ago, as
I mentioned, I had laboratory evidence of advanced proteinuria, signifying potentially fatal kidney disease—but in this case, the conventional wisdom is just a myth.

Nondiabetics who eat a lot of protein don’t get diabetic kidney disease. Diabetics with normal blood sugars don’t get diabetic kidney disease. High levels of dietary protein do not cause kidney disease in diabetics or anyone else. There is no higher incidence of kidney disease in the cattle-growing states of the United States, where many people eat steak virtually every day, than there is in the states where beef is more expensive and consumed to a much lesser degree. Similarly, the incidence of kidney disease in vegetarians is the same as the incidence of kidney disease in nonvegetarians. It is the high blood sugar levels that are unique to diabetes, and to a much lesser degree the high levels of insulin required to cover high carbohydrate consumption (causing hypertension), that cause the complications associated with diabetes.

* Phosphate, a by-product of protein digestion, requires calcium in order to be eliminated from the body—about 1 gram of calcium for every 10 ounces of protein foods. If you don’t eat much cheese, cream, milk (too high in carbohydrate), yogurt, or bones, all good sources of calcium, it would be wise to take a calcium supplement. This will prevent slow loss of calcium from your bones. I recommend calcium in formulations supplemented with magnesium and vitamin D.

† And other so-called counterregulatory hormones, such as cortisol and growth hormone.

‡ This amounts to about 7.5 percent of the total weight of a protein food. Say you eat a 3-ounce (85 grams) hamburger, no bun, for lunch—the protein in it can slowly be transformed by the liver into about 6 grams of glucose.

[reefedjib]

This comes from Dr. Bernstein's book, The Diabetes Solution:

I remember reading this and my approach with my friend was that high blood sugar caused by high amounts of carbs in the diet is what damages the kidneys. She seemed convinced that what her doctors told her (1995) was true - that high protein can damage her kidneys. So I decided to ask, here! :)

It seems the answer is that excessive amounts of protein can be damaging.

[fgummett]

It seems the answer is that excessive amounts of protein can be damaging.Not exactly the same conclusion that I reached from reading...

The Impact of Protein Intake on Renal Function Decline in Women with Normal Renal Function or Mild Renal Insufficiency -- Knight et al. 138 (6): 460 -- Annals of Internal Medicine (http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/138/6/460)
High protein intake was not associated with renal function decline in women with normal renal function. However, high total protein intake, particularly high intake of nondairy animal protein, may accelerate renal function decline in women with mild renal insufficiency.

The editors of the journal where this study was published go on to point out...High protein intake is associated with declining GFR among women with mild renal insufficiency. A causal connection has not been demonstrated. Additional studies are needed to show that reducing protein intake protects the kidney.my bold and/or italic emphasis in both quoted sections

My take is that so long as your kidneys are OK there is little cause for concern. Kidney/renal function should be part of your regular checkup as a someone with Diabetes anyway. Plus Protein tends to be a more financially expensive food than Fat and we don't really need that much each day to provide for our needs, so there is not much point in eating it "to excess" anyway.

In other words I don't sweat it... steak is fine AND contains a natural blend of Fat and Protein (along with a host of vitamins and minerals)... I think that if you stick with real whole foods you can't go too far wrong :) But of course YMMV.

[xMenace]

I asked my endo about this at my last appointment. He told me there's no evidence to suggest that high protein damages kidneys. He even gave teh hypothesis a name, but of course I ddin't write it down.

[cyberus]

My doc said that my low low carb diet wouldn't be a problem as long as my kidneys were working properly, tests thereof are part of my labwork every 6 months, along with liver/lipid panel to watch for cholesterol/triglyceride/liver issues (all great see sig)
He did not indicate that the diet may cause a problem, just that if a problem surfaced (due to diabetes I'm presuming) that I may have to modify my diet.

[reefedjib]

Not exactly the same conclusion that I reached from reading...

...

My take is that so long as your kidneys are OK there is little cause for concern. Kidney/renal function should be part of your regular checkup as a someone with Diabetes anyway. Plus Protein tends to be a more financially expensive food than Fat and we don't really need that much each day to provide for our needs, so there is not much point in eating it "to excess" anyway.

In other words I don't sweat it... steak is fine AND contains a natural blend of Fat and Protein (along with a host of vitamins and minerals)... I think that if you stick with real whole foods you can't go too far wrong :) But of course YMMV.

I asked my endo about this at my last appointment. He told me there's no evidence to suggest that high protein damages kidneys.

My doc said that my low low carb diet wouldn't be a problem as long as my kidneys were working properly, tests thereof are part of my labwork every 6 months, along with liver/lipid panel to watch for cholesterol/triglyceride/liver issues (all great see sig)
He did not indicate that the diet may cause a problem, just that if a problem surfaced (due to diabetes I'm presuming) that I may have to modify my diet.

Very interesting. I'll ask about getting kidney function tests (BUN and Creatinine?) done at my next appointment. I don't know about the function of my friend's kidneys, but I'll ask her. I find it bizarre that they associate a high protein diet with kidney problems in Women with mild renal insufficiency.

However, I am not sweating it, personally. I am eating salads and veggies to balance my protein intake. Thanks for the info!

[silvershewolf]

I too started to go on an overload meat diet and veggies too but mainly meat, I started doing this a couple days ago and it seems to actually be helping my blood sugars. I've had my first 84 in about 8 yrs. After reading this I'm not sure if I should continue. Thing is, is that any solution I come up with It counteracts with something else. I guess whether I die of diabetes or kidney damage because of too much protein, I'm going to die of SOMETHING diabetes related. My thoughts are to continue the meat diet, but thats just me. It's helping me and it's the only thing I can do that works, I've given up on everything else, nothing works. :(

[ADSOFT]

The researchers believe the bottom line is clear for athletes and non-athletes alike: when consuming high protein diets, increase your fluid intake, whether you feel as if you need to or not.

High Protein Diets Cause Dehydration, Even in Trained Athletes (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportsnutrition/a/proteindehydrat.htm)


Hmm, I guess you are going to have to drink a lot of water if you are going to get on a high protien diet.