Las dietas hiperproteicas y sus consecuencias metabólicas.

High protein intake produces an increase in net acid excretion, which in turn leads to an increase in urinary calcium. Effects of diet in urinary acid and calcium excretion depend not only on the protein content, but also may be modified by other constituents such as potassium and alkali equivalents of bicarbonate present in fruits and vegetables. Diets deficient in these potassium bases increase the acid load imposed by proteins. In consequence, diets with a high protein intake or poor in fruits and vegetables produce a low-grade systemic metabolic acidosis which exerts deleterious effects on the body, including growth retardation in children, decreased muscle and bone mass in adults, and kidney stone formation. This review intends to summarize the present evidence in relation to the effects of high protein diets in different organs and systems including hydroelectrolytic and acid base metabolism, bone metabolism, renal and endocrine function. Particular aspects that may exert a special influence in life extremes as childhood and old age are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]