Claim: Too much protein can cause liver damage.

Question

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whey-protein-side-effects#:~:text=Some%20experts%20suggest%20that%20too,protein%20is%20safe%20for%20them.

Answer 1

This is true, to an extent. Multiple studies suggest that an increase in protein increases the risk of fatty liver disease, more specifically to the elderly and overweight (TIME). However, a study conducted in 2017 found that people who ate animal protein had a 50% increase risk of liver disease. Total protein and vegetable protein diets were insignificant with a relationship with liver disease. According to HonorHealth, "If you eat too many carbohydrates and proteins, they can be converted to triglycerides. These are stored in the fat cells, and can be deposited in the liver. Insulin resistance can lead to increased triglycerides and increased uptake of fatty acids in the liver, causing further accumulation of liver triglycerides." An additional study found, "Increasing dietary protein intake by 72% resulted in a 59% increase in blood ammonia levels. Simulations of liver cirrhosis increased blood ammonia levels by 41 to 130% depending upon the level of dietary protein intake.

Comments

your information seems legit, but make sure to post the link  but your explanation is clear and good

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Your fact-check was very detailed and concise, you explained everything well while also giving the important facts.

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I felt that this was a useful fact check: high blood ammonia levels can directly affect the liver, and eating too much protein can have negative health effects.

Answer 2

So for the most part I have found this to be true. i try to be careful when fact checking health research like this because often times the studies are ongoing and are contextualized later down the line when more data and studies come out about the topic. But Im going to go ahead and say this is true. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670211/

Ive linked an article by the National Library of Medicine which saw a study where the increase of protein intake also caused an increase in blood ammonia levels, among other things, which can lead to an increased chance of liver disease. It's also important to note to not limit protein consumption as it is vital for human processes.

Heres a link to a few more sources with supporting evidence. - Terrible day for body builders.

https://www.honorhealth.com/healthy-living/fatty-liver-disease

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002441.htm

Comments

I think your fact check is good! I do see a couple of gramatical errors but they are pretty minor. I liked the sources you linked they were very helpful for your explanation.

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I think this fact check is really good as well! I liked the linked sources.

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I like how you mentioned that it is hard to fact check health research. Another thing I liked was that you mentioned that too much protein could be potentially harmful, but also too little can be harmful. I think you could have used another link to back up your claim but I really liked your fact check and I think it was accurate.

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I thought this was a good fact check, too much protein can have health consequences, and elevated blood ammonia levels can have a direct impact on the liver.

Answer 3

I found this to me true in some sense. When it comes to health-related issues or topics it is hard to trust just any website. But when I was researching it I realized that a lot of the sources were using the passive voice. Meaning they were saying "could" or "may" which mean it might for some people, but it also might not for others. So, it is important to know that yes there is still a risk of Liver damage because of too much protein but liver damage can be caused by other things such as alcohol. I am going to say this is true but not ALL of it is true. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/when-it-comes-to-protein-how-much-is-too-much

https://www.livestrong.com/article/13731785-too-much-protein-symptoms/

Comments

I liked how you mentioned that this claim is mostly true, but there is some slight falsity to it. It seems like a lot of different things can cause issues and in certain scenarios and this claim seems to be taking advantage of that.

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Jerskine-
It's understandable to feel wary about health information online, especially with the prevalence of passive language that leaves room for interpretation. In order to make definite claims there should be strong evidence to be more certain... While excessive protein intake could pose a risk of liver damage for some, it's crucial to acknowledge other contributing factors like alcohol consumption. It's wise to approach health advice with caution and consider individual differences. I think it is effective that you used two different sources to support your analysis.

Answer 4

This is true, but to an extent. Protein is an important part of the human diet, however in excess it can increase blood ammonia levels and increase the risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy. Long-term intake of a casein-rich high-protein diet had an impact on metabolic pathways in the liver that indicate higher TG deposition, inflammation and activation of processes in response to increased pH unbalance and oxidative stress. However, this is over a long period of time, and again, if you eat protein in excess. This is especially true for animal protein. It is also important to note that there is a happy medium, if you limit protein intake too much, this can also cause negative health effects. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670211/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286316303333

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002441.htm

Comments

I liked that you mention that protein intake is crucial to the human diet. This instills the sense of comfort in those researching if they should cut back on protein, when "too much protein" is only really concerning those who may be eating heavy to grow muscle and go to the gym, or those who have to tendency to overeat, specifically.

Answer 5

To some degree this is indeed true. A couple different studies suggest an increase in protein is an increase in fatty liver. However, a study conducted in 2017 found that people who ate animal protein had a 50% increase risk of liver disease. Total protein and vegetable protein diets were insignificant with a relationship with liver disease. According to HonorHealth, "If you eat too many carbohydrates and proteins, they can be converted to triglycerides. These are stored in the fat cells, and can be deposited in the liver. Insulin resistance can lead to increased triglycerides and increased uptake of fatty acids in the liver, causing further accumulation of liver triglycerides." An additional study found, "Increasing dietary protein intake by 72% resulted in a 59% increase in blood ammonia levels. Simulations of liver cirrhosis increased blood ammonia levels by 41 to 130% depending upon the level of dietary protein intake.

Answer 6

So, the short answer is yes, but the long answer is a bit more complicated. It is true that consuming excessive amounts of protein, primarily from supplements, can potentially challenge the liver. In the research, it shows that a high-protein diet can increase blood ammonia levels, which may contribute to the development of hepatic encephalopathy in people with liver cirrhosis. However, it is false that any amount of extra protein is automatically harmful. The liver can generally process moderate increases in protein consumption, as the metabolic byproducts can overwork the liver over time.  

 

livestrong

  

7 Signs You're Eating Too Much Protein - LIVESTRONG.COM

 Effects of a high protein diet and liver disease in an in silico model of human ammonia metabolism - PMC - NCBI

 

ncbi.nlm

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2

Comments

Discerning the key factor that not all amounts of extra protein intake is harmful is good information to add to this claim-check. Our bodies are designed to work more or less when necessary so it is important to note that it does not necessarily mean that you will damage your liver after going over a healthy amount. I like that you included that this can happen from primarily using supplement proteins.

Answer 7

In short, this claim is true. However, there are many studies showing that too much protein intake first turns into fat. Liver problems can occur when the protein is converted into what is called triglycerides, which is a type of fat (lipid) which is found in your blood. Through the blood, fatty acids can seep into your liver. This can happen with both too much carbohydrates and protein.

https://www.honorhealth.com/healthy-living/fatty-liver-disease#:~:text=If%20you%20eat%20too%20many,further%20accumulation%20of%20liver%20triglycerides.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/art-20048186#:~:text=Triglycerides%20are%20a%20type%20of,triglycerides%20for%20energy%20between%20meals.

Answer 8

This is (technically) true, but it is not necessarily solely the protein that leads to liver damage. Scientifically, overeating protein and carbohydrates, which turn into triglycerides, causes liver damage. Triglycerides are stored in fat cells and are deposited into the liver as they build up. This process is heightened by insulin resistance, lack of physical exercise, and consumption of unhealthy foods. Too much protein has more of an effect on the kidneys than the liver. However, in general, technically yes, eating too much protein has the potential to damage the liver. Many other factors play into this, though, and that is important to note when making a claim like this.

Listed below are my sources:

https://www.honorhealth.com/healthy-living/fatty-liver-disease#:~:text=If%20you%20eat%20too%20many,further%20accumulation%20of%20liver%20triglycerides.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6670211/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whey-protein-side-effects#:~:text=Some%20experts%20suggest%20that%20too,protein%20is%20safe%20for%20them.

Answer 9

https://veganproteinpowder.reviews/blog/is-protein-powder-bad-for-your-liver/#:~:text=Takeaway%3A%20While%20occasional%20reports%20of,with%20pre%2Dexisting%20liver%20conditions. 

This article is somewhat true. Many variables can affect the use of protein in your liver. if you have a healthy liver, there should not be an issue with the amount of protein you ingest. However, if you have a condition such as liver disease, then you may experience issues. "With cirrhosis and other forms of liver disease, a diet too rich in proteins can lead to an increase in ammonia levels within the body. Since a compromised liver struggles with detoxification processes, this buildup poses serious health risks." (veganproteinpowder.reviews). Protein is a vital source of nutrients for our body and should be included in your daily diet. If you have a history of liver issues, then consulting a doctor about your protein intake is recommended. 

Answer 10

This is a true website. I read all the links and checked on other websites and I can confirm this is not a fake article.