High-Protein diets: Helpful of harmful for kidneys? Which is it??

[dah512]

Ok, so in nutrition, I was taught that a high protein diet can be harmful to kidneys. However, in patients on a "Renal Diet" who are on dialysis at the hospital I am assigned for clinical rotations, patients must eat lots of high quality protein, and it is a HIGH PROTEIN DIET.

I have read information that suggests patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) to eat a LOW PROTEIN DIET, and I have read information that CKD patients eat a HIGH PROTEIN DIET. So I am confused! Which is it?

NOTE:

- I am only referring to quality protein (lean meats, fish, poultry, and eggs). I know that processed meat, and red meat should not be consumed as they have lots of by products that can not be filtered out in CKD patients.

- I am NOT referring to KETO, or Atkins. I am talking about a balanced renal diet. Not weight loss fad diets.

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

Very good observation! I'll give you a piece of that puzzle, I'm time limited here so I have to be brief.

The key here is to research the difference between CKD, where we are trying to keep what function we can from deteriorating vs. someone in end stage renal disease and is on dialysis, where function has already been lost.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

From what I understand, high protein diets are not harmful for people with healthy kidneys. Patients who are already in renal failure are put on low protein diets because they can't process that much protein not because protein is inherently harmful. My information doesn't come from personally researching this recently though.

Also, the keto diet is not high protein. It is high fat, low carb, moderate protein.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Is it truly *high* protein, or moderate/appropriate protein? Is the RD ever there during your clinicals? They would be an excellent one to ask what healthy vs excessive protein in the renal diet looks like