New Delhi:

Protein supplements, which come with added sugars and additives, may harm the kidneys and bones and are not required for healthy people, said experts on Tuesday, even as the ICMR-NIN’s new dietary guidelines also advise against them.

The Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), last week, released 17 dietary guidelines to prevent nutrient deficiencies, as well as address the rising risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in India.

The new guidelines, which include evidence-based food and lifestyle-related recommendations, called out against the need for protein supplements.

It noted that a healthy and proper diet is enough to fulfil the protein requirements of all individuals.

As per the new guidelines, the recommendation for protein is 0.83g/kg/day, and the estimated average intake is 0.66 g/kg/day.

“With increased knowledge and information about micronutrients and their importance in a balanced diet, people have resorted to protein powder, protein supplements, among other artificial nutritional supplements,” Dr. N Vijayshree, Head and Chief Dietician of MGM Healthcare told IANS.

“These protein powders are usually made with eggs, milk, whey, or plant sources such as soy, peas, or rice, sometimes with a mix of these sources.

“These supplements, with added sugars and additives, defeat the purpose of having a balanced diet, causing severe or more damage to our kidneys and bone health,” the doctor added.

Vani Krishna, Chief Nutritionist, at Manipal Hospital Varthur, told IANS that protein intake can be achieved by adding legumes, pulses, nuts, seeds, eggs, poultry, fish, etc with a balanced diet for all age groups.

“An individual’s protein intake has to be assessed and checked by a qualified clinical nutritionist before administering any kind of protein powders/supplements. For obtaining good quality protein, a combination of cereals with pulses in the ratio of 3:1 will help to meet the amino acids needed in the body,” Vani said.

Dr. Vijayshree also advised physical activity to use the protein consumed and avoid muscle loss, as well as an adequate amount of carbs and fats for the effective utilisation of the consumed protein.

“A balanced diet must meet the need for 20 essential amino acids required for bodily functions. To obtain some of these amino acids, which cannot be synthesised in our body, it is important to consume diverse food groups like carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

“Protein supplements are not recommended for normal, healthy people. Critically ill, hospitalised patients may require protein supplements, which should be recommended and monitored by clinical professionals,” Dr. Vijayshree said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Indian Council of Medical Research has pressed for avoiding protein supplements for building body mass and has recommended restricting salt intake, minimising sugar and ultra-processed foods and reading information on food labels to make informed and healthy food choices.

The Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) under the top health research body on Wednesday released revised ‘Dietary Guidelines for Indians (DGIs)’ to meet the requirements of essential nutrients and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The DGIs have been drafted by a multi-disciplinary committee of experts led by Dr Hemalatha R, Director, ICMR-NIN and have undergone several scientific reviews. Seventeen guidelines have been listed in it.

In the DGIs, the NIN stated that prolonged intake of large amounts of protein powders or consumption of high protein concentrate has been associated with potential dangers such as bone mineral loss and kidney damage.

It also stated that sugar should be less than 5 per cent of total energy intake and a balanced diet should provide not more than 45 per cent calories from cereals, and millets and up to 15 per cent of calories from pulses, beans and meat.

The rest of the calories should come from nuts, vegetables, fruits and milk. Total fat intake should be less than or equal to 30 per cent energy, the guidelines said.

Due to the limited availability and high cost of pulses and meat, a significant proportion of the Indian population relies heavily on cereals, resulting in poor intake of essential macronutrients (essential amino acids and essential fatty acids) and micronutrients, it stated.

Low intake of essential nutrients can disrupt metabolism and increase the risk of insulin resistance and associated disorders from a young age. Estimates show that 56.4 per cent of the total disease burden in India is due to unhealthy diets, it said. Healthy diets and physical activity can reduce a substantial proportion of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension (HTN) and prevent up to 80 per cent of type 2 diabetes.

“A significant proportion of premature deaths can be averted by following a healthy lifestyle,” it said, adding that the upsurge in the consumption of highly processed foods laden with sugars and fats, coupled with reduced physical activity and limited access to diverse foods, aggravated micronutrient deficiencies and obesity.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)