Low protein alimentation normalizes renal haemodynamic response to acute protein ingestion in type 1 diabetic children

Abstract. The effect of an acute protein load (2 g kg‐1bodyweight [BW]) was studied in nine type 1 diabetic children. Patients were maintained on two different dietary regimens. In study one, patients were on a high protein diet providing from 2.7 to 1.8 g of protein/kg of BW per day. In study two, patients were reevaluated after three weeks of a diet providing from 1.0 to 1.2 g kg‐1 of BW per day of protein. In study one (High Protein Diet), we failed to observe any rise in GFR and RPF following the protein meal (137 ± 21 basal vs. 110±14 and 472±93 basal vs. 494±93 ml/1.73 m2 of SA min‐1 at 60 min. This is in contrast with results from seven age matched controls consuming a free diet, which showed a significant rise in both GFR and RPF. In study two (low protein diet), basal GFR was significantly reduced. However after the protein load, both GFR (92±11 vs. 126±18 ml/1.73 m2 of SA min‐1) and RPF (467±83 vs. 705±102 ml/1±73 m2 min‐1) rose significantly (P<0.05 vs. basal). The data indicate that: 1 short term protein restriction reduces significantly GFR in type 1 diabetic children; 2 diabetic children maintained on an high protein intake show an altered haemodynamic response to protein ingestion; 3 a normal response to protein ingestion can be restored by short term dietary protein restriction. Copyright © 1989, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved