Kidney Function and Protein Consumption
Some people may have read or heard in the mainstream media that eating a high protein diet may damage their kidneys. Where does this idea come from? There are no human randomised clinical studies that seem to back up this idea. Hopefully this post will give you food for thought and enough science to help you make an informed choice of what is best for you. Firstly let us start with a common-sense thought experiment. A story of real people and real health outcomes over a 40 year period.
Dr Ken Berry tells a very interesting story about Kidney Dialysis Clinics in his local area. It might help you think about claims that high protein diets might be damaging to the kidneys.
"Tennessee's population has doubled in the last 40 years. Back in 1970 there were 3 dialysis clinics serving the entire population of Tennessee, so kidney function must have been OK then.
By 2010 there were 120 dialysis clinics serving the same entire population of Tennessee. That's a 4,000 percent increase.
Were all these people that needed the clinics eating low-carb, keto or carnivore? Or where they maybe eating grains, cereals, carbohydrates, sugary sodas etc?"
What do you think?
References for later perusal
Do regular high protein diets have potential health risks on kidney function in athletes?
Kidney Stones
All humans excrete crystals in our urine, we form them and the kidney excretes them. It's only when the stones get big that problems arise. Firstly can the colour of your urine help with predictions of potential problems?
One thing to do is to make sure your urine never gets to be dark yellow and beyond. So hydrate properly with water and try not to drink fruit juice. Some people seem to have an increased incidence of stones when taking a calcium supplement. If you're taking calcium for a parathyroid problem then you need to keep taking it.
Between 2001 and 2010 hospitalisation due to kidney stones increased by 50 percent. This was long before the low carb, keto or carnivore way of eating took off. It was when everyone was eating low fat, heart healthy grains, fructose from fruits and fruit juices and cereals etc
Possible Causes Of Kidney Stones
A high inflammatory state of the body possibly from seed oils, wheat and processed food consumption may be a factor. High levels of insulin may be a cause too. Low magnesium, salt and potassium has been associated with higher incidence of kidney stones. The biggest associated factor is being overweight. Some people do see serum uric acid levels go up in the early adaptation phase of a well-formulated ketogenic or carnivore diet, this is caused by decreased excretion of uric acid, not increased production. And after a month or two, the kidneys adapt to maintaining normal uric acid excretion. Kidney stones may have many causes. The most common chemicals found in kidney stones are calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. Significant promoters of kidney stone formation are genetic (aka inherited) factors, dehydration, and low dietary magnesium. You can have high uric acid levels and not have kidney stone issues while some people have low levels but suffer from stones. Reading my article on gout may help you understand processes described here. Email me if you wish to have the link posted directly to you or subscribe to my 'buy me a coffee' site.
References
Effects of Protein Intake on Renal Function and on the Development of Renal Disease
References
Effects of Protein Intake on Renal Function and on the Development of Renal Disease
Reversal of Diabetic Nephropathy by a Ketogenic Diet
Comparative effects of low-carbohydrate high-protein versus low-fat diets on the kidney
