The rule of thumb is no more than 1 gram of protein consumption per day per kilogram of body weight. So if you weigh 50 kilos, then you should eat no more than 50 grams of protein a day.
How much protein consumption would lead to kidney damage for such a person? 70 grams? 100 grams?
From where are you getting this “rule of thumb”?
Don’t know; read it somewhere.
Here is a virtually impenetrable recent review (and meta-analysis) of the question.
Bottom line is that it isn’t known one way or the other. Still, some evidence suggests that high protein diets (> 2 gm/kg/d), especially in people at higher risk for kidney disease (diabetics, obese, . . . ) may accelerate kidney problems.
Look up rabbit starvation.
Wikipedia claims the limit for safe consumption to be 285 - 365 grams of protein / day for an 80 kg person. So, presumably like 180 - 230 g for a 50 kg?
(Have added link to a ‘sort of’ a reference for the > 2g/kg/d figure I mentioned)
I weigh ~ 90kg. 90g of protein is like 3oz. Is the op serious?
Although it’s possible to get by with less, that rule of thumb is to determine adequate intake. It’s not a maximum by any degree.
They are talking protein, not meat. Multiply that by 5-10 to get a food equivalent.
A cup of Greek yogurt and a decent-sized helping of scrambled eggs will get you at least 50 grams, so it’s not like it’s crazily hard to eat that much, either. I’m on a higher-protein food plan since I’m working on losing fat and adding muscle mass, so I’m eating close to the 2g/kg/day figure - and no, I don’t have any risk for kidney disease (great HgA1C numbers, BMI under 25, etc.).
Thanks. I tried to determine from KarlGauss’s links what that would work out to be but was unsuccessful. I was also thinking about things like beans as well as meat.
I consume an average of about 200 grams of protein per day. I have done this for several years with no ill effects on kidney function whatsoever.
A single 4-oz chicken breast has 25 g; a Big Mac is close, 24. The aforementioned cup of Greek yogurt has about the same.
How many calories do you eat a day?
The analyses I have read are less the absolute top limit for grams/kg but for percent of daily caloric intake. Longer term much over 35 to 40% is not tolerated mainly because the liver can’t process that much without more carbs or fats which results in hyperammonemia and hyperaminoacidemia - both which make you sick all over, including brain.
About 2500.
800 calories a day from protein. Roughly 32% of daily calories. High but not outrageous.