Dietary protein restriction and the progression of chronic renal insufficiency: a review of the literature.

It is well known that dietary protein restriction can delay the appearance of uraemic symptoms and give symptomatic relief in patients with chronic renal failure. During the last decade, several investigators have argued that protein restriction instituted at an early phase in renal disease may influence the rate of progression of renal failure favourably. Animal experiments have given strong evidence that, in the case of nephron loss, high dietary protein promotes further loss of renal function. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the possible favourable effect of a protein-restricted diet in patients with renal disease. However, the scientific proof that long-term protein restriction delays the progression of chronic renal insufficiency in man is still missing.