International Nutritional Guidelines Vary in Recommendations for Dietary Proteins

Strategic Insights -

Research published in the Current Developments In Nutrition highlights the discrepancies in recommendations for protein intake in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type II diabetes. Investigators from the University of Zurich conducted a systematic review of 24 nutritional and clinical practice guidelines from worldwide practice guidelines. The analysis revealed that 5 guidelines met the quality assessment, but their evidence was based on an overlapping number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with varying protein intake recommendations. The study concludes that long-term and good-quality RCTs are needed to establish a consensus on protein intake for patients with CKD and type II diabetes.

Key Takeaways:

  • International nutritional guidelines vary significantly in their recommendations for protein intake in patients with type II diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • The study analyzed 24 guidelines, with 5 meeting the quality assessment using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument (AGREE II) and AGREE Recommendation Excellence.
  • The protein intake recommendations in these 5 guidelines ranged from no restriction to restriction to 0.8 g/kg body weight/d.
  • The discrepancy in recommendations could not be conclusively determined due to insufficient reporting of evidence assessment methodology.
  • The study recommends the use of rigorous development and quality assessment tools in the development of clinical practice guidelines.
  • Key stakeholders involved in the study include Alexandra Fahrner, Siyanga Ravi, Frank Ruhli, and Nicole Bender from the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich.
  • The study's findings have implications for healthcare professionals, patients, and researchers in the fields of nutrition and medicine.

Statistics:

  • 24 guidelines from worldwide practice guidelines were analyzed in the study.
  • 5 guidelines met the quality assessment using the AGREE II and AGREE Recommendation Excellence instruments.
  • The protein intake recommendations varied significantly among the 5 guidelines, with some recommending no restriction.
  • 0.8 g/kg body weight/d was the lowest recommendation for protein intake among the 5 guidelines.
  • 31 January, 2023, was the date up to which the systematic search in the online databases was conducted.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at University of Zurich Report Findings in Dietary Proteins (Current Guidelines on Dietary Protein Intake for Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review). Clinical Trials Week. November 3, 2025; p 447.
  • Current Developments In Nutrition. Current Guidelines on Dietary Protein Intake for Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review. 2025;9(10):107551.