The effect of a low-protein diet on serum levels of ceruloplasmin and transferrin in patients with chronic renal failure.

In patients with chronic renal failure the administration of a diet providing 20 g protein per day for five weeks caused a significant rise in the serum ceruloplasmin level. A low dietary copper content (0.8 mg/day) may have been the limiting factor for any further rise of the ceruloplasmin level. The rise of ceruloplasmin was associated with a continuous decline of total iron binding capacity. The temporarily raised serum iron levels and the continuous decline of unsaturated iron binding capacity suggested enhanced iron mobilization caused by the raised ceruloplasmin level. The rise of ceruloplasmin correlated with the decline of UIBC.