"protein supplements are REALLY bad for your liver"

Hello guys

A fellow colleague of me wrote me on skype. he said protein supplements are REALLY bad for your liver.
Is this true or false?

Here is the conversation:

colleague: "oh ya btw"
colleague: "one more info.."
colleague: "protein supplements..."
colleague: "they are REALLY bad for your liver..."
me: "aha?"
me: "who told you / where did you read that?"
colleague: "doctor...biochem book...science journal"
me: "ok"
me: "I'll read some about it =)"
colleague: "mhm! you should"

Can someone explain? :)

tell colleague to stfu

Explains why my eyes are yellow.......

Nowadays, everything is bad for your liver. Even that fast food chain down der.

There's no scientific evidence supporting the claim he's making. It's just protein, which doesn't harm the liver. When you intake protein, your body breaks it down, then rearranges it into a type of protein which can be used for different uses in the body, i.e it doesn't detoxify it, break it down for disposal, or anything like that, as it would substances like alcohol, drugs...etc. Your friend is a dolt.

Extreme misinformation?
But tell your buddy you heard that chicken eggs meat and all milk is bad too. Have a look on the supersite. There are alot of good articles.
I can't believe that sort of stigma is still attached to protein.. Haha it's sad!

I'll second that, bmontgomery87. Tell your friend to "stick it", LLiH.
Protein supps are staples & a must have in my stacks(& any stack that's meant to build muscle).
Good point, ryan.

Hello my friends

I knew the second he said the stuff. That he was wrong. I just wanted to make it clear to him so he would understand. Answers from you guys justify my thought which I agree with you.
I am actually a second year medical student(here: starting biochemistry next monday!). He is a 3rd year med. student. He studied Biochemistry for one year - and he stated this after that. (I find it odd that he can say such a thing)

Anyways. Thank you all for your replies. You are all appreciated greatly.
He hasn't replied me back after I told him your replies. :D

I will update when he says something new.

According to my doctor he said that to much protein puts alot of stress on the kidneys not so much on the liver thats why BUN UREA increases if you take in alot of protein and the solution for that is DRINK MORE WATER.

Too much of anything can be bad

Update:

colleague: "ask them even if this is the case of an "abnormal", chemically synthesized protein = "L" type amino acid constituted protein?"

As for synthetic, it's not the amino acid itself that damages the liver. We eat meat everyday and we're still alive now, right? ;)

It's all the other things they use to synthesize the proteins; the catalysts if you must. If they don't get filtered out and we end up drinking them, especially if the catalyst is something like I dunno, lead, there's some srs stuff right there. I think that's what he's getting at.

EDIT: Or the by-products. Accursed by-products.

Colleague: "the question is...the normal protein (non-synthetic) protein is composed of R-type amino acids...which is quite different from the "L"-type amino acids, which would be the constituents of the synthtic protein supplements...now it is my understanding that the synthetics can never have "R" isomer and only "L" isomer. If this is so, how would the "L" type amino acids not affect the human body in any way? perhaps maybe the isomerase would have a role in this, but even so, wouldn't it be more logical to think that the synthetic protein supplement would have SOME sort of effect on the human body, which most probably is antagonistic and increasing the entropy?
and also...about the point on the catalysts and by-products, I couldn't agree more...unfortunately..."

[QUOTE=ThePackage7;744120483]According to my doctor he said that to much protein puts alot of stress on the kidneys not so much on the liver thats why BUN UREA increases if you take in alot of protein and the solution for that is DRINK MORE WATER.[/QUOTE]


^^^This.

[QUOTE=ThePackage7;744120483]According to my doctor he said that to much protein puts alot of stress on the kidneys not so much on the liver thats why BUN UREA increases if you take in alot of protein and the solution for that is DRINK MORE WATER.[/QUOTE]

You'd need to take in a LOT of protein to make your kidneys **** up. Increased BUN isn't pathognomonic of a single ailement. It can be plenty of things. I also don't think drinking water helps your kidneys with processing proteins specifically persay, since water isn't needed in the coupled transport of protein/a.a during reabsoprtion.

P.S: BUN=blood urea nitrogen, you didn't have to add UREA after BUN. :P

[QUOTE=LLiH;744131563]Colleague: "the question is...the normal protein (non-synthetic) protein is composed of R-type amino acids...which is quite different from the "L"-type amino acids, which would be the constituents of the synthtic protein supplements...now it is my understanding that the synthetics can never have "R" isomer and only "L" isomer. If this is so, how would the "L" type amino acids not affect the human body in any way? perhaps maybe the isomerase would have a role in this, but even so, wouldn't it be more logical to think that the synthetic protein supplement would have SOME sort of effect on the human body, which most probably is antagonistic and increasing the entropy?
and also...about the point on the catalysts and by-products, I couldn't agree more...unfortunately..."[/QUOTE]

I think he's got something mixed up: It's either R/S or L/D, not R/L. R/S is used more by chemists, and L/D is used more by biochemists. I believe the biologically active form of an amino acid is the L configuration, correct me if I'm wrong.

Colleague: "and on my prior "extreme misunderstanding", I think I may have jumped to the conclusion without proper logical processing...the point my doc was trying to make to me was that excess energy provided by the protein supplements that hasn't been used could be stored in the liver and cause Fatty Liver, which would be easier to happen than one might expect, since the protein supplement is substance of extreme calories."

In grave excesses, definitely. As for one or two shakes a day, it's not too much. But a protein is a protein. Even chicken, when consumed in insane amounts for the body to actually used to build muscle, can be stored as fat in the liver.

It's just with powders, it's easier to overshoot because you don't feel as full. But I get where he's going at. Mix 3 scoops of protein powder in water and drink then bam, instant 400 calories. If you don't use it, becomes fat.

[QUOTE=Species8;744133093]You'd need to take in a LOT of protein to make your kidneys **** up. Increased BUN isn't pathognomonic of a single ailement. It can be plenty of things. I also don't think drinking water helps your kidneys with processing proteins specifically persay, since water isn't needed in the coupled transport of protein/a.a during reabsoprtion.

P.S: BUN=blood urea nitrogen, you didn't have to add UREA after BUN. :P[/QUOTE]



[url]http://www.livestrong.com/article/289703-high-protein-kidney-damage/[/url]

Doc told me I'm not drinking enough water after the blood work when he saw the High BUN my liver was in normal range. The more protein consumed, the more fluid the kidneys need to flush out the nitrogen

But does ur colleuge even lift??

[QUOTE=mikaveli06;744144613]But does ur colleuge even lift??[/QUOTE]

No he does not. But he loves to debate.

He is focusing on the "synthetic L isomers being bad for your liver. And R isomers are good."
That is his main topic.

[QUOTE=LLiH;744134913]Colleague: "and on my prior "extreme misunderstanding", I think I may have jumped to the conclusion without proper logical processing...the point my doc was trying to make to me was that excess energy provided by the protein supplements that hasn't been used could be stored in the liver and cause Fatty Liver, which would be easier to happen than one might expect, since the protein supplement is substance of extreme calories."[/QUOTE]

Protein is of the same calories as carbs, 4 cal/gram. Fat is of 9 cal/gram. So how is protein of "extreme calories"? Even if so, following that logic, its not the protein causing problems, its the calories. So overeating is bad for your liver? Yes overeating is bad. It has nothing to do with protein supplements.

[QUOTE=LLiH;744131563]Colleague: "the question is...the normal protein (non-synthetic) protein is composed of R-type amino acids...which is quite different from the "L"-type amino acids, which would be the constituents of the synthtic protein supplements...now it is my understanding that the synthetics can never have "R" isomer and only "L" isomer. If this is so, how would the "L" type amino acids not affect the human body in any way? perhaps maybe the isomerase would have a role in this, but even so, wouldn't it be more logical to think that the synthetic protein supplement would have SOME sort of effect on the human body, which most probably is antagonistic and increasing the entropy?
and also...about the point on the catalysts and by-products, I couldn't agree more...unfortunately..."[/QUOTE]

Assuming this were true, most protein comes from whey, from cows, how is it synthetic?

[QUOTE=JamesLI;744148463]Protein is of the same calories as carbs, 4 cal/gram. Fat is of 9 cal/gram. So how is protein of "extreme calories"? Even if so, following that logic, its not the protein causing problems, its the calories. So overeating is bad for your liver? Yes overeating is bad. It has nothing to do with protein supplements.[/QUOTE]

Maybe he's referring to all the fats in xf2.0....jokes today

[QUOTE=ThePackage7;744120483]According to my doctor he said that to much protein puts alot of stress on the kidneys not so much on the liver thats why BUN UREA increases if you take in alot of protein and the solution for that is DRINK MORE WATER.[/QUOTE]

For the 2nd time... ^^This. if you get 8957634865 grams of protien with 2oz of water yeah youll jack up ur liver, but probably kidneys first but im no doctor. I wouldnt worry about it if ur a 1g/lb lean body mass with 1 gal+ of water

Guys

I think he withdrew his statement. Looks like he is convinced. But I will update as fast as I can.

[QUOTE=LLiH;744154403]Guys

I think he withdrew his statement. Looks like he is convinced. But I will update as fast as I can.[/QUOTE]
Good