First, Do No Harm: Critical Appraisal of Protein Restriction for Diabetic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Low-protein diets have been recommended as diet therapy for the management of chronic kidney disease; however, its effect on chronic kidney disease has not been scientifically proven. Although several studies have reported significantly more favorable results with low-protein diet than with normal-protein diet, the renal protective effects of low-protein diets are still unclear in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease. Moreover, some studies have reported that extremely low-protein diets may increase the risk of mortality. Thus, this paper describes the effectiveness and safety of low-protein diets for patients with diabetic kidney disease by reviewing the historical background of different low-protein diets that were critically examined in several studies.