# How much protein consumption would harm the kidneys? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155 "2014-08-09T09:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/1 "2014-08-09T09:26:34Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/2 "2014-08-09T09:46:42Z")
From where are you getting this “rule of thumb”? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/3 "2014-08-09T09:49:03Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > From where are you getting this “rule of thumb”? Don’t know; read it somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/4 "2014-08-09T10:48:50Z")
[Here](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4031217/) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/5 "2014-08-09T10:59:21Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/6 "2014-08-09T11:11:41Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > [Here](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4031217/) 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](http://www.jrnjournal.org/article/S1051-2276(14)00110-1/abstract)), especially in people at higher risk for kidney disease (diabetics, obese, . . . ) may accelerate kidney problems. (Have added link to a ‘sort of’ a reference for the \> 2g/kg/d figure I mentioned) ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/7 "2014-08-09T11:38:41Z")
I weigh ~ 90kg. 90g of protein is like 3oz. Is the op serious? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/8 "2014-08-09T11:47:51Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > 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? 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. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/9 "2014-08-09T12:25:45Z")
> [@jimbuff314](#): > > I weigh ~ 90kg. 90g of protein is like 3oz. Is the op serious? They are talking protein, not meat. Multiply that by 5-10 to get a food equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/10 "2014-08-09T12:46:00Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > 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.). ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/11 "2014-08-09T23:10:07Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > They are talking protein, not meat. Multiply that by 5-10 to get a food equivalent. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/12 "2014-08-10T00:01:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/13 "2014-08-10T00:37:49Z")
> [@jimbuff314](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/14 "2014-08-10T01:32:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/15 "2014-08-10T01:59:51Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protein-consumption-would-harm-the-kidneys/695155/16 "2014-08-10T03:47:54Z")
800 calories a day from protein. Roughly 32% of daily calories. High but not outrageous.