Protein Supplementation Traps and the Truth About Human Serum Albumin in Emergency Treatment

Some parents believe that high protein equals good nutrition, so they feed their children large amounts of high-protein foods. However, unilaterally emphasizing high protein intake can negatively impact a child's health. The metabolic products of protein are excreted by the kidneys. Excessive protein intake increases the burden on the kidneys. The kidneys are vital organs that maintain the body's water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance through urination. The kidneys are also endocrine organs; for example, they secrete erythropoietin. If kidney function is impaired, symptoms of anemia such as paleness and fatigue may appear. Children are in a stage of growth and development, and their kidney function is also in a continuous process of improvement, making them relatively delicate and easily damaged. If a child's kidneys are overburdened, they will inevitably become overwhelmed over time. All cells need energy to function, and brain cells are no exception. However, brain cells are very selective about their energy sources. Nutrients that provide energy to the body include protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Brain cells, however, can only utilize carbohydrates, one of the three major energy-providing nutrients. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose in the body, which is then oxidized to produce energy. The main food sources of carbohydrates for the human body are grains and tubers, i.e., staple foods. If a child's diet consists of filling their stomach with milk, eggs, and meat at every meal, with only a few bites of staple food or none at all, their brain cells may face an energy crisis. Good nutrition means a reasonable, balanced, and moderate diet. While protein is important, it's not true that the more you eat, the better.

Protein can strengthen the anti-cancer immune system, but it can also promote cancer growth. This seems to be more evident in patients already diagnosed with cancer; when patients are given increased protein, the tumor appears to grow faster. This is because cancer cells metabolize more vigorously than normal cells, seizing large amounts of protein to allow their growth to outpace everything else. When protein intake exceeds requirements, after metabolism, many toxic metabolic residues remain in the body's tissues, leading to autointoxication, acid-base imbalance (excessive acidity), nutritional deficiencies (some nutrients are forcibly excreted), and uric acid accumulation, resulting in various diseases such as gout. Excessive protein intake in patients with acute glomerulonephritis can promote glomerular sclerosis. Those with renal insufficiency or azotemia should limit their protein intake (ideally 20 grams per day) and consume high-quality protein such as milk and eggs. Excessive protein intake can worsen azotemia and uremia. Liver disease patients need 90-100 grams of protein daily to facilitate liver cell repair and regeneration, but a high-protein diet should not be emphasized. Excessive protein intake can be converted into fat and stored, increasing the burden on the liver and leading to fatty liver disease. Undigested protein ferments and putrefies in the intestines, exacerbating azotemia and ammonia poisoning, and potentially triggering hepatic coma. Furthermore, excessive protein intake can also cause brain damage, mental abnormalities, osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, and heart disease. Those who consistently consume high-protein diets may experience a buildup and absorption of harmful substances in their intestines, potentially leading to premature aging and a shortened lifespan. A US research institution announced that excessive meat consumption can cause an imbalance in bodily fluid minerals, specifically a surge in phosphorus and a sharp decrease in calcium (meat contains 20 times more phosphorus than calcium). The consequence of a sharp decrease in calcium is tooth loss or alveolar pyorrhea.

Human serum albumin is expensive and in short supply, making it an emergency medication. However, many people treat it as a nutritional supplement. It has been reported that a healthy elderly person went to great lengths to obtain a vial of albumin, and after using it, developed hyperosmolar acute renal failure, only escaping death after emergency treatment. Another patient with chronic heart disease suffered a heart failure attack after using albumin and nearly died. The reasons for these situations are: firstly, people's psychological state, believing that expensive medicines are good medicines; and secondly, people's insufficient understanding of the properties of albumin. Human serum albumin is a non-denatured, pure albumin preparation extracted from human plasma, mainly used for the following common critical and acute conditions: (1) Various hypoalbuminemia-related edema in internal medicine, such as nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, ascites, etc. (2) Shock caused by various blood volume deficiencies in surgery, such as hemorrhagic shock and cerebral edema caused by craniocerebral trauma. (3) Hemorrhagic shock, eclampsia, premature birth in children, etc. in obstetrics and gynecology. It is not suitable for use in patients with heart failure, hypertension, esophageal varices, anuria, or early-stage burn shock. It is incorrect for some people to use albumin as a nutritional supplement or tonic. Human serum albumin preparations do not contain any antibodies and will not increase the body's immunity. For nutritional supplementation, the body should use hydrolyzed protein, compound amino acids, glucose, etc., which are immediately broken down and utilized after entering the body. Furthermore, imported albumin preparations should be used with extreme caution.