BODYBUILDERS have a practice of maintaining a high-protein diet and supplementation with the common belief that these are necessary in building muscles coupled with weight lifting. However, scientific studies demonstrate that such practices have at least two adverse consequences as a direct result of increased blood ammonia level. Ammonia is a byproduct of protein breakdown in the liver and in bodily tissues. In, fact, Jeddidiah Griffin and Patrick Bradshaw demonstrated that an increase in dietary protein intake by 72 percent of the daily dietary recommendation leads to an increase in blood ammonia by 59 percent.
First, since ammonia passes through the blood-brain barrier, high levels of ammonia in the brain contribute largely in weakening its neural function. This negative effect is associated with hepatic encephalopathy, which results from a compromised liver urea cycle, especially in patients with liver disease.
The accepted recommendation is for humans to consume not more than 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram body weight, per day. Therefore, you can easily determine your maximum recommended protein intake by multiplying this recommendation with your weight.
Second, because ammonia is extremely toxic to the body, ammonia has direct effect to the liver, which filters almost all nitrogen containing substances in the blood. If this cleaning mechanism becomes overwhelmed or impaired, neural impairment occurs. Therefore, increased ammonia in blood is also associated with neural disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
Unfortunately, liver disease opens up more problems because liver damage increases potentially toxic substances in the blood, particularly affecting the nerves. These substances are called cytokines. Consequently, most treatments aim at reducing ammonia level in blood.
Excess protein intake is unnecessary because the body has its limited need for protein synthesis. The excess of the protein consumed will be used as a source of energy, typically representing 15-20 percent of the body’s energy supply. High-protein diet may contribute in muscle building. However, it also increases blood ammonia, which endangers the liver.
The key to health is always moderation.