Korean cohort: low protein intake in chronic kidney disease linked to 42% higher risk of kidney failure

The National Institute of Health of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported on 10 November that a team from Chonnam National University Hospital followed patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis at 9 hospitals in Korea from 2011 to 2024, according to yna.co.kr. yna.co.kryna.co.kryna.co.krOpen source ↗ Extremely low protein intake was associated with higher risks of kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation, and of death.

The researchers estimated daily protein intake from the nitrogen excreted in urine after protein is broken down in the body. Lower intake was associated with a 42% higher risk of progression to end-stage kidney failure and a 117% increase in overall mortality risk.

Professor Seo Sang-heon said protein restriction has been a management principle for more than 100 years, yet evidence that it reduces long-term kidney failure and death was insufficient. He said the study shows that cutting protein indiscriminately may not help every patient, but does not mean a high-protein diet is advised. Intake should be set per patient by physicians and clinical dietitians.

The International Society of Nephrology's 2024 guideline recommends 0.8 g/kg per day, as for other adults, rather than uniform strict restriction for patients not on dialysis. The results were published in JAMA Network Open. yna.co.kryna.co.kryna.co.krOpen source ↗