Higher dietary protein intake and kidney function

Higher protein intake will harm your kidneys?

Short answer: No!

Another myth falling apart...

It all started as a general theory with no convincing human data back in 1982 with the publishing of "Dietary Protein Intake and the Progressive Nature of Kidney Disease: — The Role of Hemodynamically Mediated Glomerular Injury in the Pathogenesis of Progressive Glomerular Sclerosis in Aging, Renal Ablation, and Intrinsic Renal Disease" by Barry M. Brenner, M.D. et. Al.

Since then and until today, a majority of nutritional textbooks continue to claim that high protein diets are detrimental to kidney function. This statement might hold some level of truth in those with existing kidney disease, it is clearly an unfounded claim for healthy people. Furthermore, dietary protein is a critical macronutrient for physically active people and athletes and is required on a daily basis. The current RDA likely provides a minimum sufficient protein intake for athletic performance, but is does not provide an optimal level of dietary protein to allow for adaptation. Current evidence appears to support higher protein intakes are better even for general health.

Moreover, many ancient but also current Human civilizations only rely on protein and fat for their nutrition and display no higher occurrences of kidney diseases, cardiovascular issues or even cancer.

 In addition to older studies, these new ones (meta-analysis to just weak correlation studies) clearly show that higher protein intakes do not adversely influence kidney function for healthy individuals.

So, as a conclusion, there are NO reliable data linking protein to declines in kidney function. Period. To pretend so is more of fearmongering than actual science! 

Review your textbooks folks! 

Papers:

https://t.co/0BeVjVBH1Z & https://t.co/MO5x9LXIdh