Protein intake and renal function in children
M. Nakano, U. Alon, S. S. Jennings and J. C. Chan
Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
To evaluate the effects of protein intake on renal tubular functions, seven
metabolic studies were performed on five adolescents with mild, chronic
renal insufficiency. After equilibration, patients were randomly assigned
to two periods of four days each on either a high-protein diet (HPD) or a
low-protein diet (LPD), with energy intakes remaining the same during both
periods. High protein intake resulted in significantly higher mean (+/- SD)
daily creatinine excretion and clearance rates. The HPD was associated with
significantly increased excretion rates of potassium, phosphate, sulfate,
and calcium. Net acid excretion with the HPD was nearly threefold higher
than that observed with the LPD. These differences were unassociated with
urinary pH, which remained similar with both diets. We conclude that
different protein intakes affect urinary excretion of creatinine,
potassium, phosphate, sulfate, calcium, and net acid.
