Protein-induced changes in kidney function depend on the time of administration but not on the dietary source

Two separate experiments were carried out to study the effects of the same acute protein load given at different hours of the day and to assess the ability of proteins from different sources to induce hyperfiltration. In the first experiment, 9 healthy volunteers were kept at strict bedrest for 48 h, during which both a meat high-protein meal (protein load, PL) and a vegetable low-protein meal (control load, CL) were given either at lunch or at suppertime. As compared to a CL, PL determined a significant increase in GFR, total proteinuria (uTP), albuminuria (uA), and urinary retinol-binding protein (uRBP). These effects were much more significant after lunch PL than after supper PL, thus indicating an interaction between the PL and the time of the day. The existence of a circadian rhythm for GFR, uTP, uA, and uRBP was corroborated by spontaneous changes over baseline levels, which also were prominent after lunch CL as compared to those following supper CL. In the second experiment, 7 healthy volunteers ingested at lunch three protein-rich meals at 1-week intervals. The three protein loads consisted of about 80 g protein in the form of cooked red meat, cheese, and soya, respectively. The only significant differences between groups were urea appearance and urea clearance, lower and higher, respectively after soya load. These findings suggest that when evaluating the renal functional reserve after acute protein load both the spontaneous changes and the time-dependent sensitivity of kidney functions to acute challenges should be considered. Finally, the amount rather than quality of dietary proteins seems to be the determinant factor for protein-induced glomerular hyperfiltration.