An
experiment done in rats by scientists at the University of Granada,
Spain, shows a high-protein diet increases the chance of developing
kidney stones and other renal diseases.
High-protein
diets, like the popular Dr. Dukan diet, increase the long-term risk of
developing kidney disease and have a negative effect on renal urinary
and morphological markers, the study suggests. What's more, they may
promote serious pathologies like nephrolithiasis (calcium kidney stones)
because they drastically reduce urinary citrate (an inhibitor of
calcium salt crystallization) and urinary pH, and increase urinary
calcium (to compensate for the metabolic acidity caused by excess
protein).
University of Granada scientists have demonstrated this in an experiment in rats that examined the effects of a high-protein diet on renal urinary, plasma and morphological parameters.
The researchers studied 20 Wistar rats, divided into two groups of 10. The first group were fed a high-protein diet of commercial hydrolysed protein supplements with a 45% protein level. The control group were fed a normal protein diet. The experiment lasted 12 weeks, which is the equivalent of 9 years in human terms.
10 per cent weight loss
The results showed that the rats on a high-protein diet lost up to 10% of their body weight over the 12 weeks with no improvement in their plasma lipid profile. Moreover, urinary citrate in these rats was 88% lower and urinary pH was 15% more acidic. In the animals fed a high-protein diet, kidney weight increased by 22%, glomerular area -- the network of capillaries that filter blood in the kidneys -- by 13%, and the mesangium -- a collagen structure surrounded by these capillaries -- by 32%.
The results of this study lead the principle author, Dr Virginia A. Aparicio of the University of Granada Department of Physiology, to stress the need to closely monitor anyone on a high-protein diet. The Dukan diet, and others like it, may have serious long-term adverse effects on their health, if the rat study results are applicable to humans.
She warns that the negative effects of high-protein diets on the kidney also depend on the presence of other nutrients in the diet. "Eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of kidney stones forming -- probably due to their high potassium and magnesium content, which compensates for the acidity of the high-protein diet," Dr Aparicio concludes.
Source: sciencedaily.com
University of Granada scientists have demonstrated this in an experiment in rats that examined the effects of a high-protein diet on renal urinary, plasma and morphological parameters.
The researchers studied 20 Wistar rats, divided into two groups of 10. The first group were fed a high-protein diet of commercial hydrolysed protein supplements with a 45% protein level. The control group were fed a normal protein diet. The experiment lasted 12 weeks, which is the equivalent of 9 years in human terms.
10 per cent weight loss
The results showed that the rats on a high-protein diet lost up to 10% of their body weight over the 12 weeks with no improvement in their plasma lipid profile. Moreover, urinary citrate in these rats was 88% lower and urinary pH was 15% more acidic. In the animals fed a high-protein diet, kidney weight increased by 22%, glomerular area -- the network of capillaries that filter blood in the kidneys -- by 13%, and the mesangium -- a collagen structure surrounded by these capillaries -- by 32%.
The results of this study lead the principle author, Dr Virginia A. Aparicio of the University of Granada Department of Physiology, to stress the need to closely monitor anyone on a high-protein diet. The Dukan diet, and others like it, may have serious long-term adverse effects on their health, if the rat study results are applicable to humans.
She warns that the negative effects of high-protein diets on the kidney also depend on the presence of other nutrients in the diet. "Eating large amounts of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of kidney stones forming -- probably due to their high potassium and magnesium content, which compensates for the acidity of the high-protein diet," Dr Aparicio concludes.
Source: sciencedaily.com
Now that is interesting. I have heard something similar before but I never knew that a high protein diet can lead to kidney stones.
ReplyDeleteI'm not on a diet and I'm not a rat. All good here.
ReplyDeleteOh my... And to think how many people eat a high-protein diet thinking that it is beneficial to their health. I'm sure that this study will determine them to reconsider their decision.
ReplyDeleteProteins, on the average, are more difficult to break down in the system so I could see how they could build up the more undigestible components enough to cause stones.
ReplyDeleteA popular diet that might cause Kidney damage? Why in the world would anyone DO a diet that could Harm?
ReplyDeleteInteresting study... It's good that now people know they should avoid these diets.
ReplyDeleteThis is something new and interesting for me to read. One of my brother's is currently on a protein diet, I think I'll have to send him this!
ReplyDeleteUh oh. This doesn't sound good. Diets aren't good for you in general so it's better to just watch what you eat rather than dieting.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't sound like any diet I would want to go on!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing how we are finding more and more diets to be bad for us!
ReplyDelete