Recent trends in weight loss diets have led to a substantial increase in protein 
intake by individuals. As a result, the safety of habitually consuming dietary 
protein in excess of recommended intakes has been questioned. In particular, 
there is concern that high protein intake may promote renal damage by 
chronically increasing glomerular pressure and hyperfiltration. There is, 
however, a serious question as to whether there is significant evidence to 
support this relationship in healthy individuals. In fact, some studies suggest 
that hyperfiltration, the purported mechanism for renal damage, is a normal 
adaptative mechanism that occurs in response to several physiological 
conditions. This paper reviews the available evidence that increased dietary 
protein intake is a health concern in terms of the potential to initiate or 
promote renal disease. While protein restriction may be appropriate for 
treatment of existing kidney disease, we find no significant evidence for a 
detrimental effect of high protein intakes on kidney function in healthy persons 
after centuries of a high protein Western diet.