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LATEST RESEARCH
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| By Davey Dunn |
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Do Regular High Protein Diets Have Potential
Health Risks on Kidney Function in Athletes? |
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A study done at the University of Brussuls examined the effects of
high protein diets in trained athletes. The study investigated
body-builders (BB) and other well-trained athletes (OA) with high
and medium protein intake. The athletes underwent a 7-day
nutrition record analysis as well as blood sample and urine
collection to determine the potential renal consequences of a high
protein intake. The data revealed that despite higher plasma
concentration of uric acid and calcium, Group BB had renal
clearances of creatinine, urea, and albumin that were within the
normal range. The nitrogen balance for both groups became
positive when daily protein intake exceeded 1.26 g /kg bodyweight;
but there were no correlations between protein intake and creatinine
clearance, albumin excretion rate, and calcium excretion rate.
The scientists concluded that protein intakes as high as 2.8 g
/kg bodyweight do not impair renal function in well-trained athletes
as indicated by the measures of renal function used in this study
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COMMENTARY: We have heard from a lot of Doctors
that it is dangerous to the kidneys to ingest more than the RDA of
protein each day (.80 g/kg bodyweight). Unfortunately such a
low amount is not conducive to muscle growth. This study
showed that athletes who use much higher dosages of protein (up to
2.8 g /kg bodyweight) show no adverse effects according to normal
measurements of kidney function.
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WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STUDY?
An athlete can safely ingest as much as 2.8g per kilogram of body
weight of protein each day. This means a man who weighs 220
pounds can take in 280 grams of protein without fear of overly
stressing his kidneys.
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Poortmans JR, Dellalieux O. Do Regular High Protein
Diets Have Potential Health Risks on Kidney Function in Athletes
Int J Sport Nutr 2000 Mar;10(1):28-38
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