Red meat may take a toll on the kidneys, increasing the risk for kidney disease and eventually kidney failure, a large study suggests.
The authors also found that replacing some red meat in the diet with other types of protein – whether chicken, fish, eggs or vegetable sources – may dramatically reduce that risk.
“There is an increase in numbers of individuals developing chronic kidney disease worldwide, and many progress to end-stage renal disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant,” Woon-Puay Koh told Reuters Health by email.
“Current guidelines recommend restricting dietary protein intake in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease to help reduce symptoms and slow progression to end-stage renal disease,” said Koh, a researcher at the National University of Singapore and the study’s senior author.