Response to 28 Aug 2002 post regarding current debate over high protein
diets:

With regard to the renal acid load (along with the corresponding increase
in urinary calcium excretion) that has been oberved in trials investigating
high protein diets, a pivotal confounding variable (potassium intake) has
been postulated to explain most of the variance in outcome (ie. a high
potassium intake reduces protein-induced renal net acid excretion).  Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9734733&dopt=Abstract


Under an a priori assumption of the validity of the simple, modifiable,
nutritional r
elationship outlined in the article above (between potassium,
protein, and renal net acid excretion), this "revelation" would be in
accordance with an evolutionary hypothesis of optimal human nutrition
because paleolithic-type diets were thought to provide approximately 2-4
times as much potassium as modern "Western-type" diets now provide.  Using
the equation identified by the investigators in the link above, it may be
reasonable to attempt to modify the ratio of 'potassium-to-protein' in
order to meet, or exceed, about 40 mg dietary potassium for every gram of
protein ingested.  If this relationship between dietary potassium, protein,
and renal net acid excretion holds for the majority of the population, then
this simple modification has the potential to reverse most of the negative,
physiology-based concerns regarding high protein diets (most of which
concern renal dynamics).

Other con
cerns (e.g. the fatty acid profile of the protein foods consumed)
would not necessarily be addressed by this simple nutritional algorithm,
however, so it would not necessarily provide individuals a "free pass" to
consume as much protein as is desired.  If the current debate on high
protein diets is to be productive, then the relationship between dietary
potassium, protein, and renal net acid excretion must be included in future
discussions.  Further investigation of this relation is also warranted, in
order to unveil the renal dynamics associated with high protein diets and
to stratify the potential effects in the population at large, including
those with altered renal function (ie. renal diseases).

Ed Thompson