Chijioke Iremeka
While protein is considered a critical part of the processes that give energy, carry oxygen throughout and essentially, the building block of life, specialists have warned that eating excess protein for a prolonged period can place a burden on the kidneys, liver and bones, and capable of increasing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
According to them, although high-protein diets are popular for weight loss and in the management of type 2 diabetes, evidence suggests that worsening renal function may occur in individuals with or without impaired kidney function.
They held that high dietary protein intake can cause intraglomerular hypertension, which may result in kidney hyperfiltration, glomerular injury, and proteinuria, which are serious medical conditions.
The experts also said too much of it can be dangerous to humans, especially when the liver is weakened.
Experts, who spoke exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise in different interviews, said when the liver is diseased, a patient may be required to limit protein intake, insisting that excess protein in adulthood is undesirable for the heart.
A Consultant Cardiologist at the University of Abuja, Augustine Odili, said those with liver conditions may be required to limit their protein intakes as it may adversely affect their health.
The Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine said those with liver disease should limit their intake of protein.
While alluding to the belief in some quarters that excess protein may be harmful to the body, the National President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society said, “We overstretched things beyond their scope of relevance. At what point will you say that protein is excess? Many of us in this part of the world may not have the required quantity of protein intake.
“The only condition that I know that may require you to moderate protein intake is if you have a liver disease. Otherwise, if the liver is good and right, there is no problem with taking protein because we don’t even have enough. Don’t forget that protein is not cheap and not many people can afford that large quantity that may be injurious.
“Apart from liver diseases, any other thing will be a matter of physiology. God is so wonderful that even when you take something that you think is in excess, there is a physiological process of its conversion for another use.
“Nature has a way of converting things that appear harmful into something less harmful. Amino acid is deaminated into harmless urea. However, those with liver conditions may have to reduce excess consumption of protein.”
Meanwhile, a Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, James Oloyede advised adults to reduce protein intake.
The Nutritionist said, “When protein is eaten in excess, it becomes a problem. This will put pressure on the kidney because it has to deaminate the amino acid and by so doing, the kidney will be overworked. You know that protein contains two groups, the amino and carbon.
“The amino group is deaminated and this puts pressure on the kidney and if the kidney is not healthy, it will affect it. It will get exhausted breaking down the protein all around. The kidney has to keep working non-stop and this could lead to organ failure.”
Buttressing this point, a study published in the National Library of Medicine by Gang-Jee Ko and his team, titled, ‘The Effects of High-Protein Diets on Kidney Health and Longevity,’ confirmed that high protein intake may lead to de novo Chronic Kidney Disease.
According to the study, although high-protein diets continue to be popular for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, evidence suggests that worsening renal function may occur in individuals with—and perhaps without—impaired kidney function.
“High dietary protein intake can cause intraglomerular hypertension, which may result in kidney hyperfiltration, glomerular injury, and proteinuria. It is possible that long-term high protein intake may lead to de novo CKD.
“The quality of dietary protein may also play a role in kidney health. Compared with protein from plant sources, animal protein has been associated with an increased risk of ESKD in several observational studies, including the Singapore Chinese Health Study.
“Potential mediators of kidney damage from animal protein include dietary acid load, phosphate content, gut microbiome dysbiosis, and resultant inflammation. In light of such findings, adopting current dietary approaches that include a high proportion of protein for weight reduction or glycemic control should be considered with care in those at high risk for kidney disease.
“Given the possibility of residual confounding within some observational studies and the conflicting evidence from previous trials, long-term studies including those with large sample sizes are warranted to better ascertain the effects of high protein intake on kidney health,” the study stated.
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