A short-term low-protein diet reduces glomerular filtration rate in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients

1. The effect of a 7-day low-protein diet on renal function was studied in 17 normotensive, normoalbuninuric, insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) patients. Glomerular filtration rate (GRF) and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured after 7 days on an isocaloric low-protein diet (0.5g protein/Kg per day). 2. Compliance was confirmed by 24-h urinary urea levels, GFR was measured after a single injection of 51Cr-EDTA and UAE by radioimmunoassay. 3. GFR was reduced by 13.8% on the low-protein diet (139n 27.7 vs 120.4 n 25.1 ml min-1 (1.73m2) (P