Hormonal
Sustained high-protein diets (HPD) exceeding 1.5 g/kg/day, particularly when consumed by athletes and bodybuilders, induce glomerular hyperfiltration and progressive glomerulosclerosis, leading to a rapid decline in kidney function and potential end-stage kidney disease.
If you are an athlete or bodybuilder, consuming protein levels significantly above 1.6 g/kg/day (often 3-4 g/kg/day) does not build more muscle but may accelerate kidney damage, especially if you have any underlying kidney issues. Monitor your kidney function regularly and consider reducing protein intake to the 1.6 g/kg/day range to maximize muscle gains while minimizing renal risk.
High-protein diets (HPDs) are popular but their consequences for kidney health, especially among athletes and bodybuilders who typically maintain a high protein intake for a long time, have not been investigated... HPD among athletes and bodybuilders in an extreme way across a long-term period may pose a risk to renal health including high incidence of HPD nephropathy.
Why this rating
The paper is a review citing observational studies and animal models; it notes a lack of long-term RCTs in humans.
Source
Revisiting glomerular hyperfiltration and examining the concept of high dietary protein-related nephropathy in athletes and bodybuilders
Eunjung Cho et al. · Current Opinion in Nephrology & Hypertension · 2021
DOI 10.1097/mnh.0000000000000755
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