Is to much protein a bad thing?

mkennedym

and here is more from WebMD

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900

cabbie461

Consult a dietician. excessive protein in an unbalanced diet can cause health problems but you need to talk to the experts. Then leave that expert and go talk to another. balance up the advice and do what you think is best for you.

YeaILift

Some of the responses in this thread are flat out wrong. This thread comes up daily.

1) Protein is the only macronutrient that is near impossible to turn into fat without pathways provided by excessive carbohydrates.

2) MFP has a very low default % for protein

3) Excessive amounts of protein is no where near 15-20g or even 60g.

There is no legitimate study that shows that high protein intake causes kidney damage. In fact, a quick webmd / google search will show multiple case studies with group studies on protein intake. No one had impaired kidney function.

you shouldn't rely too heavily on google or webmd.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-protein-diets/AN00847

or you can use lexis nexis and search health databases for actual abstracts from medical journals. too much protein can weaken your liver and kidneys.

References for that article:
1.Kushner RF, et al. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets revisited. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. 2008;24:198.
2.Brehm BJ, et al. Benefits of high-protein weight loss diets: Enough evidence for practice? Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity. 2008;15:416.
3.Last AR, et al. Low-carbohydrate diets. American Family Physician. 2006;73:1942.
4.Nelson JK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 29, 2010
5.Astrup A, et al. Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: Hoax or an effective tool for weight loss? The Lancet. 2004;364:897.
6.Walker C, et al. Diets for cardiovascular disease prevention: What is the evidence? American Family Physician. 2009;79:571.
7.Westerterp-Planteng MS, et al. Dietary protein, weight loss, and weight maintenance. Annual Review of Nutrition. 2009;29:21.
8.Anderson CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 19, 2010.

Which source is a study on high-protein causing damage to the kidneys? (if you pick 4 or 8, you're wrong and they're wrong)

YeaILift

and here is more from WebMD

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50900

This article references a ketogenic diet as a high protein diet which simply isn't true. Ketogenic is a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet. Also, the only adverse effects on the kidneys mentioned are the cause of dehydration, not from too much protein.

thkelly

I'm in healthcare and I can tell you all the evidence points to NOT going over your recommended protein. You can actually go into renal failure and die from too many protein shakes (okay, this is a little melodramatic but seriously it can happen!!).

wow it's a bro-science convention in this thread

1FITmamaofTWINS

GOD you people are idiots (sorry!!!) yes, extended amounts of protein over a long period of time has been shown to cause kidney problems...

can you consume to much protein by accident? HELL NO! NOT EVEN CLOSE!

you should get at LEAST one gram per lb of ideal body weight. (ex: if you want to weigh 120lbs you MUST consume at least 120 grams of protein per day)

to make it simple-- EAT LOTS OF PROTEIN!!!! IT WILL AID IN MUSCLE GROWTH AND HELP PREVENT MUSCLE LOSS WHICH IS EASY TO DO WHEN YOU ARE CUTTING CALORIES...

EATTTTTT PROTEINNNNNNNNNNN LOTS OF IT

YeaILift

GOD you people are idiots (sorry!!!) yes, extended amounts of protein over a long period of time has been shown to cause kidney problems...

can you consume to much protein by accident? HELL NO! NOT EVEN CLOSE!

you should get at LEAST one gram per lb of ideal body weight. (ex: if you want to weigh 120lbs you MUST consume at least 120 grams of protein per day)

to make it simple-- EAT LOTS OF PROTEIN!!!! IT WILL AID IN MUSCLE GROWTH AND HELP PREVENT MUSCLE LOSS WHICH IS EASY TO DO WHEN YOU ARE CUTTING CALORIES...

EATTTTTT PROTEINNNNNNNNNNN LOTS OF IT

I suggest you provide some evidence instead of just resorting to name calling.

mkennedym

since you won't take "expert opinions"

Eisenstein, Julie, Roberts, Dallal, Saltzman. "High-protein Weight-loss Diets: Are They Safe and Do They Work? A Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Data." Nutrition Reviews, Jul 2002, Vol 60 Issue 7, 189-200.

author's abstract
From the available data, however, it is evident that the consumption of protein greater than two to three times the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance contributes to urinary calcium loss and may, in the long term, predispose to bone loss. Caution with these diets is recommended in those individuals who may be predisposed to nephrolithiasis or kidney disease, and particularly in those with diabetes mellitus.

"High Protein Diets Risky for Bones and Kidneys." Good Medicine, Winter 2003, Vol 12 Issue 1.

Presents an overview of the result of a study on the effect of low-carbohydrate high-protein diets on acid-base balance, stone-forming property and calcium metabolism of bones and kidneys conducted by S. T. Reddy et. al., which was published in the 'American Journal of Kidney Diseases' in 2002.

"Yet Another Health Organization Criticizes High-Protein Diets." Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter. Dec 2001 Vol 19 Issue 10.

Evaluates the effects of high-protein diets in the U.S. Influence in the progression of kidney diseases; Ability to clog up arteries; Loss of calcium in the urine.

"TOO MUCH PROTEIN MAY CAUSE REDUCED KIDNEY FUNCTION." New Vegetarian & Natural Health. Winter 2003, p11.

Reports on the findings of a research regarding a link between high-protein diets and kidney function decline. Risk factor on the source and type of protein; Inquiry on the long-term health outcomes.

Now, when people in this thread said something to the effect of "you can eat as much protein as you want, don't worry about it" that isn't technically correct. My point for the OP wasn't that 20 grams extra a day is going to cause kidney problems or any other problems, as 20 grams isn't that much, but to the people who told her that she could eat as much protein as she wants and not have to worry about it, that's just not sound advice.

thkelly

holy crap. it's not like she's going to eat 500 grams of protein a day. she could easily double her protein intake and she would be fine. it's not like they're telling her to eat as much protein as she wants based on a 5000 calorie diet.

mkennedym

actually, if the daily recommended amount of protein is 40-70 grams a day, 2-3 times that is only 80-140 or 120-210 grams a day.

http://exercise.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=exercise&cdn=health&tm=85&f=20&su=p284.9.336.ip_p674.8.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/protein-requirement.php

YeaILift

Eisenstein, Julie, Roberts, Dallal, Saltzman. "High-protein Weight-loss Diets: Are They Safe and Do They Work? A Review of the Experimental and Epidemiologic Data." Nutrition Reviews, Jul 2002, Vol 60 Issue 7, 189-200.

author's abstract
From the available data, however, it is evident that the consumption of protein greater than two to three times the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance contributes to urinary calcium loss and may, in the long term, predispose to bone loss. Caution with these diets is recommended in those individuals who may be predisposed to nephrolithiasis or kidney disease, and particularly in those with diabetes mellitus.

Increase Dietary Calcium and Water.

"High Protein Diets Risky for Bones and Kidneys." Good Medicine, Winter 2003, Vol 12 Issue 1.

Presents an overview of the result of a study on the effect of low-carbohydrate high-protein diets on acid-base balance, stone-forming property and calcium metabolism of bones and kidneys conducted by S. T. Reddy et. al., which was published in the 'American Journal of Kidney Diseases' in 2002.

Increase Dietary Calcium and Water.

"Yet Another Health Organization Criticizes High-Protein Diets." Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter. Dec 2001 Vol 19 Issue 10.

Evaluates the effects of high-protein diets in the U.S. Influence in the progression of kidney diseases; Ability to clog up arteries; Loss of calcium in the urine.

Increase Dietary Calcium and Water.

"TOO MUCH PROTEIN MAY CAUSE REDUCED KIDNEY FUNCTION." New Vegetarian & Natural Health. Winter 2003, p11.

Reports on the findings of a research regarding a link between high-protein diets and kidney function decline. Risk factor on the source and type of protein; Inquiry on the long-term health outcomes.

Increase Dietary Calcium and Water.






Researches found that an increase in protein causes an increase in the "glomerular filtration rate" back in 1983. Since then, scientists and researches have jumped to the conclusion that an increase in our GFR puts more stress on the kidneys. However, there is no scientific evidence backing this claim.

In fact, in this review from the Internation Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), athletes took up to 1.27g/lb of protein. This was the concluison:

In any case, without evidence, one must wonder from where the dissuasive "education" stems. Various researchers have observed the disconnectedness between scientific evidence and public education regarding protein. The lack of population-specific data on athletes and the equivocal nature of existing data on non-athletes (e.g. elderly and even chronic kidney disease patients, beyond the scope of this review) bring into question why there is a "widely held belief that increased protein intake results in calcium wasting"[6] or why "Media releases often conclude that "too much protein stresses the kidney" [4]. Conversely, any conclusions that purposeful consumption of ample or surplus dietary protein are harmless or entirely without consequence are similarly under-substantiated, at least regarding the resistance trainer population. Note that the recent ISSN position paper quoted earlier in this review simply concludes that concerns are "unfounded" for healthy exercisers, not that a harmless situation exists. This is correctly cautious. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence (regarding available data on protein's renal, bone or dietary consequences). As a population that routinely consumes higher amounts of protein,[7] strength athletes appear to be dismissing warning messages from educators but may instead be relying on questionable personal or anecdotal "evidence" once that educator credibility is lost. It would be truer to promulgate a message that the scientific and professional communities still lack specific information on the total safety profile of ample, purposefully sought protein among weightlifters. After decades of controversy we still simply do not explicitly know.

http://www.jissn.com/content/6/1/3

pkpzp228

holy crap. it's not like she's going to eat 500 grams of protein a day. she could easily double her protein intake and she would be fine. it's not like they're telling her to eat as much protein as she wants based on a 5000 calorie diet.

Seriously, put it in perspective. I'm sure we can all dig up links to journals and flex our research muscle under the guise of providing information that helpful to the OP.

It was already said MFP generally under proportions protein intake goals, and OP was talking about an overshot of like 20 grams or something. Adding another 400 kcal expendature will up your protein goal for the day by more than that and we're working in the context of a calorie deficit....

Long story short its negligible.