As a health supplement for protein supplementation, protein powder is favored by people. It is not only occasionally added to the diets of students, office workers, and middle-aged and elderly people, but hospitalized patients also regard it as an important source of nutrition, with some hospitals providing nearly one can per critically ill patient. In this regard, Zhao Liting, a attending physician in the Department of Nutrition at the Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, pointed out that protein powder supplementation varies from person to person, and improper intake can have adverse effects on the human body.
She said that the human body's need for protein is related to gender, age, activity level, and physiological status. The "Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes" recommends that adults' daily protein intake of 65 to 90 grams, or 10% to 12% of total energy, is sufficient to meet the needs. Healthy people can get the protein they need from foods such as eggs, meat, fish, and legumes, and do not need to add protein powder. Excessive protein intake can burden organs such as the kidneys, and in severe cases, it can lead to complications such as elevated urea nitrogenemia. The following five groups of people should be especially cautious when using protein powder: Patients with kidney disease should strictly limit their protein intake, as it can be toxic to the kidneys; Patients with advanced liver disease, excessive protein intake can increase the burden on the liver and induce or worsen hepatic coma; Infants and young children, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or allergies, and children under 3 years old should not consume it; Patients with gout should avoid protein powders with soy protein as the main ingredient, as it can increase uric acid levels in the body and worsen the condition; Individuals at high risk of osteoporosis, excessive protein intake can accelerate the loss of calcium from bones, making osteoporosis more likely.