Do low-carb diets damage the kidneys?

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Do low-carb diets damage the kidneys?
 

– Reported, June 11, 2012

 

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have been popular among dieters for years, but are they doing damage to your kidneys?

Studies show that these types of diets such as the Atkins diet do not cause noticeably harmful effects to patients kidney functions or their fluid and electrolyte balance.

Allon Friedman, MD, and his colleagues compared the effects of a low-carb, high-protein diet versus a standard low-fat diet on a variety of kidney related measures in 307 obese individuals without kidney disease over a two year period.

Although further follow up is needed to determine the long term effects of this diet on the kidneys, there was no noticeable damage. These individuals all possessed healthy kidneys and those with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension or any other kidney disease may not have the same results.

Source: Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, May 2012