IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune disease. It is characterized by glomerulus damage with the deposition of IgA and other immune complex on glomerulus. Patients with IgA nephropathy should manage a proper diet to reduce the progression of the illness. Some patients asked that can I have a high protein diet with IgA nephropathy?

IgA nephropathy will finally develop into kidney failure with the deterioration of the illness. Some symptoms may appear and worsen. Proteinuria is a common symptom of IgA nephropathy. So if you are troubled by proteinuria, then high protein diet is not suggested.

High protein diet will increase the burden of kidney and further damage glomerulus. Protein will break down into waste products, like urea nitrogen, which should be filtered out by glomerulus. If you take in too much protein, there will be more waste products. Since the glomerulus is damaged with IgA nephropathy, high protein diet will cause more damage to glomerulus.

So you are suggested to eat a low protein diet.

However, you may develop malnutrition if you take low protein diet for a long time. So you should take high-quality protein food like egg white, fish, lean meat, dairy product to prevent malnutrition. How much protein should you take? You can contact the online doctor for answers, and it is for free.

Not all patients are suggested to eat a low protein diet.

When the illness develops into kidney failure, you may be asked to do dialysis to remove the waste products and toxins as well as extra water in the blood. At the meantime, some protein will lose on dialysis. So you should add some protein in your diet moderately according to your illness condition. You should talk to your doctor and take proper amount of protein.

Can I have a high protein diet with IgA nephropathy? It depends on your condition. You can send your test report to renal-disease@hotmail.com, the doctor will reply to you as soon as possible!