Too much protein?

[RNOTODAY]

Can excessive intake of protein cause kidney damage in a person with normal, functioning kidneys? I believe it can, but cant find the documentation to prove it to someone.... thoughts, am I wrong?

[I_am_Julia]

where are the studies to support this? the atkins diet supports lean meat and a healthy portion of carbs/fat.

yes. protein breaks down into among other things, nh3 or ammonia, which can, in excess, damage kidneys. remember the atkins diet? i have taken care of otherwise healthy people who damaged their kidneys from prolonged atkins-like diets. it's really interesting to look at the pathophysiology.

[I_am_Julia]

kimmer has a website but it costs to join. if you go to any low carb boards, there are tons of threads with people who are doing kimmer challenges. however, there has been a lot of mispresentation of people who loss weight using kimmer on her site.

anything in excess is not good for you. i don't believe atkins will damage the kidneys if they are normal. i've been reading about this new amazing diet called kimkin or something like that. i'd love to try it but it seems to me it would not be a smart thing to do.

http://www.skinnyondiets.com/kimkins.html?b=8277&gcid=s15771x274&keyword=kimkins&gclid=cj6hn7v914wcfrkigaodwslfgq

[I_am_Julia]

the key term that you used is no carbs. atkins doesn't say elimiate all carbs.

id like to see you prove their kidneys were specifically damaged from the atkin's diet and high protein intake.

any references to back up your claim that high protein intake definitely damages kidneys? i've looked at hundreds of studies from the late 80's up until 2004 or 05 and most seem to say youre wrong.

i'll give it to you that high protein intake with already impaired kidney function is a no go and that limiting protein intake in those with unhealthy kidneys may or may not help the situation. but to flat out say that yes excess protein consumption with healthy kidneys will damage them is hmm bs?[/quote

i respect your opinion on this but i too have had extensive experience with people who were otherwise quite healthy who wound up on my transplant floor with no other reason for their kidneys failing other than either extensive protein intake as a result of high protein diets - or from being in prolonged states of ketosis -- high protein, no carbs. i believe if you look you can find studies that will support either of our views. i have many friends on high protein diets who are doing well, and i know others who don't feel well -- so what works for one may harm another -- and when i'm teaching my patients about this, that's what i tell them. but certainly, you would agree if you go high protein, after a while, have a renal function run so you know if you have a pair of kidneys that can handle it. never hurts to be conservative and careful.

[TazziRN, RN]

Following Atkins does not damage healthy kidneys. If RF pts were on Atkins then it's just a timing coincidence.....failure was present but unknown at the time Atkins was being followed.

[Ophelia78]

The Eskimo population of Alaska has an extraordinarily high protein diet and in my experience did not have any higher incidence of kidney disease.

This is true, one of my professors when I was studying for my anthropology degree had done much of her fieldwork with Inuit populations. Their high-protein diet is different from the average Atkins dieter's though, because it is primarily wild game and fish, which is leaner than domestic meat. A fair amount of food (mostly seafood, I believe) is eaten raw as well.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

Thanks everyone, I guess I was wrong...

I really thought that consistent, very high ptotein intake (above say, 150 grams every day) would cause damage, even if it took a while...

And I tried to research it, but found almost as many views for each answer, so I didnt know what to think.

Interesting...