Low Protein Diet

A low protein diet is a therapeutic diet designed by dietitians or physicians for individuals who need a significantly restricted amount of protein. The intake of protein-containing foods is limited depending on several factors, such as age, gender and health condition. Overall, a low protein diet aims to treat the specific condition of individuals by modification of daily meals. However, a continuous low protein diet poses risks to vital function of cells, such as wound healing and immune response to infections.

Significance

• Understand that protein is a macronutrient needed by the body in performing a wide array of vital functions, such as normal cell development, tissue repair and protection against infectious diseases. Protein is degraded into amino acid sequences, which are then excreted by the kidney in the form of urea.

  The need for a low protein diet arises when an individual has abnormalities in liver, kidney or metabolic functions. These abnormalities and related conditions may lead to the accumulation of urea or ammonia in the bloodstream and produce toxic effects in the body.

Normal Dietary Protein

• Note that the Food and Nutrition Board states that "the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for both men and women is 0.80 g of good quality protein/kg body weight/d and is based on careful analysis of available nitrogen balance studies." It follows that a low protein diet at normal conditions is the measure below the standard RDA value.

Food Sources

• Know that protein-containing foods are found in both animal and plant sources. Protein-rich foods include soybeans, eggs, fish, cheese, poultry and milks. Alternative protein sources include cereals, vegetables, nuts and legumes. These foods are consumed in limited or restricted amounts when maintaining a low protein diet.

Dietary Management

• Keep in mind that the low protein diet is recommended by physicians or dietitians as a therapeutic management for individuals with disorders that are usually related to metabolic and renal abnormalities, such as uremia. The aim is to provide a treatment by modifying the regular protein intake that best suits the condition. For instance, a certain condition may need to adjust up to 50 percent below the regular protein intake while simultaneously increasing the carbohydrate intake for up to 25 percent.

Effects

• Remember that in dietary management, the effectiveness of a low protein diet depends on the strict adherence to the regimen and can be evaluated by monitoring the improvements on the condition of the patient. In general, according to the Harvard University Health Services, "routinely eating a low protein diet may result in fatigue, frequent colds, impaired immune function, weakness or poor recovery from a workout, anemia and hair loss."