%0 Journal Article
%T Adverse Effects Associated with Protein Intake above the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Adults
%A Ioannis Delimaris
%J ISRN Nutrition
%D 2013
%R 10.5402/2013/126929
%X Background. While high-protein consumption¡ªabove the current recommended dietary allowance for adults (RDA: 0.8£¿g protein/kg body weight/day)¡ªis increasing in popularity, there is a lack of data on its potential adverse effects. Objective. To determine the potential disease risks due to high protein/high meat intake obtained from diet and/or nutritional supplements in humans. Design. Review. Subjects. Healthy adult male and female subjects. Method. In order to identify relevant studies, the electronic databases, Medline and Google Scholar, were searched using the terms:¡°high protein diet,¡± ¡°protein overconsumption,¡± ¡°protein overuse,¡± and ¡°high meat diet.¡± Papers not in English were excluded. Further studies were identified by citations in retrieved papers. Results. 32 studies (21 experimental human studies and 11 reviews) were identified. The adverse effects associated with long-term high protein/high meat intake in humans were (a) disorders of bone and calcium homeostasis, (b) disorders of renal function, (c) increased cancer risk, (d) disorders of liver function, and (e) precipitated progression of coronary artery disease. Conclusions. The findings of the present study suggest that there is currently no reasonable scientific basis in the literature to recommend protein consumption above the current RDA (high protein diet) for healthy adults due to its potential disease risks. Further research needs to be carried out in this area, including large randomized controlled trials. 1. Introduction Protein is an essential macronutrient needed by the human body for growth and maintenance. Foods rich in animal protein are meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and dairy products, while plant foods high in protein are mainly legumes, nuts, and grains. The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8£¿g protein/kg body weight/day for adults (for children 1.5£¿g protein/kg body weight/day, and for adolescents 1.0£¿g£¿protein/kg body weight/day) [1]. However, high protein diets (defined as an intake above the current RDA) are promoted intensively by the nutritional supplements industry and they are considered to be ¡°the gold standard¡± by many athletes (especially bodybuilders) for muscle development and/or body fat loss. On the other hand, several scientists claim that the overuse of protein supplements or high dietary protein intake could cause disorders to human health [1¨C7]. The aim of this review study is to determine the potential health dangers due to high protein/high meat intake obtained from diet or nutritional supplements based on the human studies
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.nutrition/2013/126929/