nutrition
It turns out that there is such a thing as too much protein.
A new study published in the journal Nature Metabolism suggests that consuming too much protein can have a negative effect on your arteries.
“Our research shows that increasing your protein intake in the pursuit of better metabolic health is not a panacea. You may be doing serious damage to your arteries.” , Babak Razani, MD, senior author and co-corresponding author and professor of cardiology at the University of Pittsburgh, said in a statement.
Researchers at Pitt School of Medicine have found that eating too much protein can lead to atherosclerosis, a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in and on artery walls. .
This buildup, also called plaque, can narrow the artery, blocking blood flow, or rupture, forming a blood clot.
When more than 22% of the calories in your diet come from protein, there can be increased activation of immune cells involved in blood plaque formation in your arteries.
Data collected over the past decade shows that Americans consume a lot of protein, primarily from animals, with nearly a quarter of the U.S. population getting more than 22% of their total daily calories. I found out that I only get my intake from protein.
Razani said the trend toward higher protein intakes may be due to the common belief that dietary protein is essential for a healthy lifestyle, but that consuming too much can be harmful in the long term. I suggested it was expensive.
According to the National Institutes of Health, women need to eat an average of 2,000 calories per day and men 2,500 calories per day to maintain their weight.
So, on average, women who consume more than 440 calories of protein and men who consume more than 550 calories may be at risk of causing damage to their arteries.
This equates to just about 6 ounces of steak, which is twice the recommended 3 ounces of steak.
That means you could be consuming enough protein to damage your arteries before you eat lunch. Two eggs (156 calories), four slices of bacon (172 calories), and one Greek yogurt (100 calories) give him over 400 calories.
Foods considered to be rich in protein include eggs, meat, fish, and lentils.
“Our hope is that this study will start a conversation about how to modify diet in precise ways that can affect body function at a molecular level and reduce the risk of disease,” Razani said. said.
The study combined small-scale human experiments with experiments using mice and cells in petri dishes.
Razani and Dr. Bettina Mittendorfer, a metabolism expert at the University of Missouri-Columbia, collaborated to investigate the protein's relevance to the human body.
Researchers also discovered that leucine, an essential amino acid and nutrient-based signal that activates protein synthesis, is a major cause of white blood cell activation and abnormal macrophages, a risk for atherosclerosis. did.
“We have shown through mechanistic studies that amino acids, which are actually building blocks of proteins, can cause disease through specific signaling mechanisms and also alter the metabolism of these cells.” said Mittendorfer. “For example, small immune cells in the vasculature called macrophages can trigger the development of atherosclerosis.”
Research shows that differences in leucine levels between diets containing plant and animal protein may be the reason behind the different effects on heart, blood vessels, and metabolic health.
The findings are particularly important for hospital dietitians, who often recommend protein-rich diets to maintain muscle mass and strength for the sickest patients.
“Maybe it's a mistake to blindly increase your protein intake,” Razani suggested. “Instead, it is important to look at the diet as a whole and suggest a balanced diet that does not inadvertently exacerbate cardiovascular disease, especially those at risk of heart disease and blood vessel disorders.
“The potential for this type of mechanistic research to inform future dietary guidelines is very exciting.”
