Contents:
- Medical Video: Chronic Kidney Disease: Protein Intake
- Kidney stones or nephrolithiasis
- How can protein trigger kidney stones?
- Acute kidney failure
- How can protein cause acute kidney failure?
- Glomerulosclerosis
- How can protein cause glomerular cancer?
- Does this mean we have to avoid protein?
Medical Video: Chronic Kidney Disease: Protein Intake
Until now it is still a debate whether consuming too much protein can be dangerous for kidney health. However, it is clear that people who have a history of kidney disease are advised to reduce the amount of protein consumed in one day, because it can aggravate the work of the kidneys whose function has previously been disrupted.
Protein is a type of macro nutrients needed for the body to build tissues and cells in the body. Almost all tissues contain protein in it, therefore protein is very important for maintaining bodily functions. According to the Ministry of Health, the protein needed for adults is an average of 0.8 to 1 gram per kg of body weight a day. Some health conditions may require more protein but for people who have a history of kidney disease, it is recommended to reduce the amount of protein consumed to reduce the workload of the kidneys.
The following are some of the conditions of kidney problems and problems that might be caused by either eating too many protein sources.
Kidney stones or nephrolithiasis
Kidney stones are conditions in which there is a stone or mass in the urine. There are several types of kidney stones that can occur, namely:
Calcium stones, which is a kidney stone formed from calcium oxalate. Oxalate is found in various types of foods, such as chocolate, nuts, and several types of vegetables and fruits.
Struvite stone, kidney stones that are formed due to infection and types of kidney stones are easy to develop into large.
Urea acid stone, kidney stones are formed from the habits of people who are not used to consuming water or people who lose large amounts of fluid. In addition, this type of stone is most often caused by high protein consumption.
Cystine stone, which is caused by heredity. Some people who have offspring experience impaired kidney function, can experience this.
How can protein trigger kidney stones?
Eating excessive protein sources, most often causes urea acid type kidney stones. This is evidenced in a study that found that consumption of foods high in protein in 6 consecutive weeks caused calcium to be present in urine and aciuria (acid urine), a condition in which the body changes pH to acid. When these conditions occur continuously it will trigger the formation of kidney stones.
The same was evidenced by research involving as many as 45 thousand men who on average consumed excessive sources of animal protein. This research shows that there is a related relationship between protein consumption and the incidence of kidney stones. Excessive consumption of protein, especially animal protein such as beef, chicken, eggs, seafood, can cause a decrease in the amount of citrate in the body that actually serves to prevent kidney stones.
Acute kidney failure
Acute kidney failure occurs when the kidneys suddenly cannot function properly, namely filtering various substances from the blood. When the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood, the substances that should be removed by the body through urine are not wasted so that these chemicals accumulate and interfere with other body functions. This disease develops very quickly, continues to worsen in a matter of days or even in a matter of hours. Many things are the cause of acute kidney failure and one of them is excessive protein eating habits.
How can protein cause acute kidney failure?
An experiment conducted in mice stated that consuming too much protein could cause cells in the kidneys to be damaged and then die. The mice that were tested were 93 individuals, who were given high-protein food for 2 weeks continuously. Then at the end of the experiment, it was discovered that mice given food high in protein experienced ischemia in their kidneys. Ischemia in the kidneys is a condition in which the blood vessels in the kidney organs become blocked so that the kidneys do not get enough oxygen and food. This will cause tissue in the kidneys to die and kidney failure to occur.
Glomerulosclerosis
Glomerulosclerosis is damage to the kidney called the glomerulus. Glomerulus is a part of the kidney that has the main function of filtering blood, removing substances and fluids that are not needed, then removing it as urine. Actually, glomerular function to filter blood will decrease slowly with age, and is compounded if the person has a history of hypertension or various other kidney diseases. Glomerular damage will get worse if sufferers often eat foods with high protein sources.
How can protein cause glomerular cancer?
When the person consumes excess protein, the kidneys will not be able to filter it so that protein is often found in the urine. The experiment was again carried out on mice that had problems with their kidneys. Then these mice were given high-protein food for some time and showed a decline in kidney function occurs faster. Unlike mice that have kidney disease but are limited in protein intake. In this group of mice, it was seen gradual improvement in kidney function.
Does this mean we have to avoid protein?
Of course not! Protein remains a source of macro nutrients that is needed by the body because its function is to build and maintain body cells. However, what needs to be considered is the limitation of protein consumption, especially animal protein, because animal protein food sources have fat content in them. So, if too much is consumed it will cause various health problems. Maybe not only kidney disease but also other degenerative diseases such as heart disease.
READ ALSO
- 5 Foods That Must Be Reduced By Patients With Kidney Disorders
- Watch Out for the 3 Risks If You Have a High Protein Diet
- 11 Best Sources of Protein from Vegetable Foods
