The Study
Association between dietary protein intake and risk of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This study looked at lots of people over time and found that those who ate more protein, especially from plants and fish, tended to have less kidney disease. But it doesn't prove that eating more protein caused the lower risk—maybe those people also exercised more or ate fewer sugary snacks.
Analysis score
Maximum 85 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
This study looked at whether eating more protein from plants or animals affects the chance of getting kidney disease.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 560 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Eating about 30 grams of plant protein daily — like a cup of lentils or two slices of whole grain bread — may significantly lower kidney disease risk, especially compared to very low intake.
- 2People who ate more total protein had 18% lower risk; plant protein lowered risk by 23% (best at 30g/day); animal protein lowered risk by 14%, mostly from fish and seafood.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Year
2024
Authors
Yu Cheng, Guanghao Zheng, Zhen Song, Gan Zhang, Xuepeng Rao, Tao Zeng
Related Content
Claims (7)
Eating a high-protein diet does not damage the kidneys in people with healthy kidney function, even though it raises levels of creatinine and urea in the blood.
People who consume more dietary protein, especially from plants and seafood, have a lower rate of chronic kidney disease compared to those who consume less.
Consuming 30 to 45 grams of plant protein per day is associated with the lowest risk of chronic kidney disease. Eating more than this amount does not further reduce risk.
People who consume more total protein, plant protein, and animal protein have a lower incidence of chronic kidney disease compared to those who consume less, based on long-term observational data from over 148,000 individuals.
The link between eating more animal protein and lower risk of chronic kidney disease only appears in studies from Japan and Korea. When those studies are removed, the link is no longer seen.
People who eat more fish and seafood as part of their animal protein intake have a 16% lower risk of developing chronic kidney disease compared to those who consume more red or processed meats.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.