Kidney
Kidneys and protein
Renal function in patients following a low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes: a review of the literature and analysis of routine clinical data from a primary care service over 7 years
Shown in his diabetic patients with kidney function damage, the low carbohydrate diet improved kidney function.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34468402/
Case reports on well-trained bodybuilders: Two years on a high protein diet
The findings indicate that 2 yrs of a high protein diet in healthy resistance trained men had no effect on measures of body composition as well as liver or kidney function. Thus, there is no evidence to suggest that consuming a high protein diet over a 2-yr period causes any harmful side effects
Myth busted: Researchers show that a high-protein diet does not affect kidney function
“There is simply no evidence linking a high-protein diet to kidney disease in healthy individuals or those who are at risk of kidney disease due to conditions such as obesity, hypertension or even type 2 diabetes,” says Devries-Aboud.
According to Phillips, “Protein causing kidney damage just lacks any support. I think we can put this concept to rest.”
Fun facts about the Kidneys
Holds 22% of entire blood supply
1.1 liters of blood per minute
So in 5 minutes your entire blood supply goes through
Blood comes in through the renal artery and waste goes out through the ureter as urine, after the kidney has processed the urea sent by the liver.
Urea is a breakdown product of protein metabolism
Some functions of the kidney
Our cells in our body produce waste products so the kidney has to filter them.
The kidney can regulate changes in the osmolality (the concentration of all chemical particles found in the fluid part of our blood)
It can also change the acidity of the blood, by regulating the pH of our blood tightly.
The kidney regulates the water flow, retention of water and electrolytes.
The kidney is the FILTER of our BLOOD
It processes blood and also reabsorbs water or ions (electrolytes)
When we reabsorb nutrients the blood that is nutrient rich now goes to the RENAL VEIN to enter the body’s circulation again.
So the kidney’s take the reabsorbed nutrients and send it on its way via the bloodstream.
Kidneys also filter out the breakdown products from protein and at the levels of eating to satiety following a carnivore diet, it should not be a problem.
RECAP OF THE TWO MAIN FUNCTIONS
Both carried out by the functional units of the kidney, called nephrons. Situated in between the renal cortex (shell)and the middle part of the kidney (which is called the renal medulla)
FILTRATION. Filter out waste products and some important molecules like amino acids or glucose or ions end up in a filtrate that passes through the kidneys. The filtrate can also have the stuff we don’t need. Between this job and the second function the kidneys take our blood and excrete some urine. Which leads us to the other function.
COLLECTION. The collection of urine is in the renal calyx. The renal calyces come together in the renal pelvis. All the urine is collected and it goes out the ureter. Goes into the bladder. (where tubes or vessels coming out we call that area the hilum)
The kidneys are an important organ for homeostasis.
It regulates the fluid balance
Electrolytes
Blood pressure (it excretes the right amount of sodium and chloride ions to do this)((insulin also acts upon the sodium receptor in the kidney))
The removed waste product is called UREA. Here is a brief description of the process.
Urination is clinically called Micturition.
The renal calyx is the first part to collect urine from the collecting tubules, there are many of them and they coalesce at the renal pelvis.
The renal pelvis leaves the kidney through the tube called the ureter.
Then it goes to the bladder
It is a one way street as it has valves to stop back flow.
It goes towards the feet!
The bladder is lined with transitional epithelium.
(side note , squamous epithelium is just flat or columnar epithelial cells, columnar are taller)
Transitional means somewhere in between.
These cells allow the bladder to expand and fill up with urine (300 to 500 milliliters of urine, like a tall bottle of water)
The final part of the urinary tract is called the urethra.
It does not simply just flow, there is control, with the internal urethral sphincter (a circle of muscle that IS NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL) It stops leaks out of the bladder, which it does unless the bladder is over full.
The circle of muscle is smooth muscle (involuntary control)
The ureters (there are two if you still have two kidneys obviously) will individually spray urine into the bladder.
(Women have a slightly different set up before the urine ends in the toilet as they also have a membranous urethra. This circles the urethra.
Men have the addition of the prostatic urethra, it passes through the prostate which is not directly involved in the urinary system. Then once through that men also have the membranous urethra)
We have then the external urethral sphincter that is something we control. We learn this control (potty training)
Women don’t have what is known as a spongy urethra so the urination part is very close to the EXTERNAL WORLD. We’ve reached the end of the female journey.
Men have an additional section of spongy urethra (it’s in the penis) so the connection to the outside world is less direct.
This is why women are more prone to urinary tract infections.
Sometimes you sadly do get backflow. Stasis, urine hanging out and problematic. Bacteria and infection risk
Urine has a function of dispelling bacteria.
Kidney stones
Tennessee's population has doubled in the last 40 years
Back in 1970 there were 3 dialysis clinics serving the entire population of Tennessee, so kidney function must have been ok then.
By 2010 there were 120 dialysis clinics serving the entire population of Tennessee
That's a 4,000 percent increase.
Where all these people that needed them eating low carb, keto and carnivore
Or where they eating grains, cereals, carbohydrates, sugary sodas etc
KIDNEY STONES
We excrete crystals in our urine daily, we form them and the kidney excretes them. It's only when they get big that problems arise.
Make sure your urine never gets to be dark yellow. So hydrate properly with water and try not to drink fruit juice. Some people seem to have an increased incidence of stones when taking a calcium supplement. If you're taking calcium for a parathyroid problem then you need to keep taking it.
Between 2001 and 2010 hospitalization due to kidney stones increased by 50 percent. This was long before the low carb, keto or carnivore way of eating took off. It was when everyone was eating low fat, heart healthy grains, fructose from fruits and fruit juices and cereals etc
Possible Causes Of Stones
A high inflammatory state of the body possibly from seed oils, wheat and processed food consumption may be a factor. High levels of insulin may be a cause too.
Low magnesium, salt and potassium is associated with higher incidence of kidney stones
The biggest associated factor is being overweight.
Some people do see serum uric acid levels go up in the early adaptation phase of a well-formulated ketogenic or carnivore diet, this is caused by decreased excretion of uric acid, not increased production. And after a month or two, the kidneys adapt to maintaining normal uric acid excretion.
Kidney stones have many causes. The most common chemicals found in kidney stones are calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. Significant promoters of kidney stone formation are genetic (aka inherited) factors, dehydration, and low dietary magnesium
You can have high uric acid levels and not have kidney stone issues while some people have low levels but suffer from stones.
https://www.virtahealth.com/faq/ketogenic-diet-kidney-stones
OTHER RESEARCH
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10722779/
https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/148/11/1760/5153345
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224634/
https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/36/8/2225
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/014067369192977A
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0018604
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22653255/
Kidney Function and Protein Consumption
Some people may have read or heard in the mainstream media that eating a high protein diet may damage their kidneys. Where does this idea come from? There are no human randomised clinical studies that seem to back up this idea. Hopefully this post will give you food for thought and enough science to help you make an informed choice of what is best for you. Firstly let us start with a common-sense thought experiment. A story of real people and real health outcomes over a 40 year period.
Dr Ken Berry tells a very interesting story about Kidney Dialysis Clinics in his local area. It might help you think about claims that high protein diets might be damaging to the kidneys.
"Tennessee's population has doubled in the last 40 years. Back in 1970 there were 3 dialysis clinics serving the entire population of Tennessee, so kidney function must have been OK then.
By 2010 there were 120 dialysis clinics serving the same entire population of Tennessee. That's a 4,000 percent increase.
Were all these people that needed the clinics eating low-carb, keto or carnivore? Or where they maybe eating grains, cereals, carbohydrates, sugary sodas etc?"
What do you think?
References for later perusal
Do regular high protein diets have potential health risks on kidney function in athletes?
Kidney Stones
All humans excrete crystals in our urine, we form them and the kidney excretes them. It's only when the stones get big that problems arise. Firstly can the colour of your urine help with predictions of potential problems?
One thing to do is to make sure your urine never gets to be dark yellow and beyond. So hydrate properly with water and try not to drink fruit juice. Some people seem to have an increased incidence of stones when taking a calcium supplement. If you're taking calcium for a parathyroid problem then you need to keep taking it.
Between 2001 and 2010 hospitalisation due to kidney stones increased by 50 percent. This was long before the low carb, keto or carnivore way of eating took off. It was when everyone was eating low fat, heart healthy grains, fructose from fruits and fruit juices and cereals etc
Possible Causes Of Kidney Stones
A high inflammatory state of the body possibly from seed oils, wheat and processed food consumption may be a factor. High levels of insulin may be a cause too. Low magnesium, salt and potassium has been associated with higher incidence of kidney stones. The biggest associated factor is being overweight. Some people do see serum uric acid levels go up in the early adaptation phase of a well-formulated ketogenic or carnivore diet, this is caused by decreased excretion of uric acid, not increased production. And after a month or two, the kidneys adapt to maintaining normal uric acid excretion. Kidney stones may have many causes. The most common chemicals found in kidney stones are calcium, oxalate, and uric acid. Significant promoters of kidney stone formation are genetic (aka inherited) factors, dehydration, and low dietary magnesium. You can have high uric acid levels and not have kidney stone issues while some people have low levels but suffer from stones. Reading my article on gout may help you understand processes described here. Email me if you wish to have the link posted directly to you or subscribe to my 'buy me a coffee' site.
References
Effects of Protein Intake on Renal Function and on the Development of Renal Disease
References
Effects of Protein Intake on Renal Function and on the Development of Renal Disease
Reversal of Diabetic Nephropathy by a Ketogenic Diet
Comparative effects of low-carbohydrate high-protein versus low-fat diets on the kidney