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Young mother died of too much protein? What is behind it?
Are proteins to blame?
The tabloid press rolls over with headlines a la "Mother dies of too much protein". But that is actually wrong.
Bodybuilders often take protein as a dietary supplement. In case of a genetic defect of the urinary cycle your body can not process them. (Image: Samo Trebizan / fotolia.com) Protein diet
Ms. Hefford was preparing for a bodybuilding competition. Therefore, she strictly dieted and fed a lot of protein-rich food and protein shakes.
Protein helps to lose weight
A high-protein diet promotes weight loss, because the body uses protein only slowly, and the stomach therefore early signals to be full. In addition, proteins drive fat metabolism.
Urea cycle disorder
Megan suffered from a genetic disorder in her urinary cycle. Urea cycle defects are diseases of the metabolism.
What causes this disorder?
Disrupted is the nitrogen excretion. This increases the ammonia content in the blood. Ammonia in turn acts as a poison on the nerve cells - especially in the brain.
Innate and potentially deadly
If this hereditary disease remains untreated, it often leads to death - even without protein shakes. If it is detected early, a treatment promises success.
When does the disease break out??
The disease breaks out either in infancy, at puberty, in pregnant women or when increased intake of protein (proteins). The latter was the case with Megan.
Too much ammonia
The Australian died on 21 June. Her blood was too high in ammonia, and there was fluid in her brain.
Is there a protein overdose?
Dr. Stephan Glienke from Hannover researches as a historian bodybuilding and health and moves the false reports of Reißerpresse straight. He says: "1.) there is no" protein overdose "2) the woman did not die of the protein but of a congenital disease."
Proteins are innocent
Glienke points out: "Here, it is basically about the fact that the woman has been fed on a diet mainly from protein-rich foods, as well as protein shakes. Neither is responsible for her death. However, she is responsible for a metabolic disorder she was suffering from due to which her body had difficulty metabolizing large amounts of protein. "
Media act irresponsibly
Journalists in Germany simply wrote off, which similarly disseminated dubious magazines in English-speaking countries. Glienke explains: "The case went through the English press before and also there, the protein was falsely blamed for her death, but not her metabolic disease."
Symptoms went unnoticed
The deceased showed symptoms that indicated their illness but did not explain it. Glienke says, "Those who follow the case also know that their mother reports that her daughter often suffered from body weakness, but therefore did not go to the doctor to be examined."
Parents demand protein controls
Meanwhile, the parents of Megan make the proteins responsible. Glienke says, "After her death, her parents now demand greater control of the supplement industry so that dietary supplements such as protein powder can not easily be sold."
Suspended responsibility
For Glienke it is a clear case of shifted responsibility: "For me, it is a typical case of externalized responsibility and reminds me a lot of how suicide was handled by some teenagers in the 1990s. The parents blamed Heavy Metal, and especially Judas Priest, for the killing of their children, because apparently some of them had heard of metal before committing suicide. Of course, this is much easier for the bereaved, so asking uncomfortable questions about why they have not noticed that their children are suicidal, or whether they have given them enough time, taken enough care of them. So the responsibility is conveniently shifted to the music, just like the protein powder here. "
Are protein controls useful?
Megan did not die of proteins but of hereditary disease. Glienke compares, "Other people are allergic to lactose, or to gluten, so that's not a reason milk and wheat products are taken out of the market. It just means that if you notice negative effects when eating it, you should investigate it and have it checked out by a doctor to get clarity. "
Sensation press leads astray
A joke about scare tactics in the media reads: "Sodium chloride discovered in saline". The situation is similar with the "killer protein". Glienke concludes: "In any case, some people's lactose intolerance is no reason for headlines such as" milk kills "or" slows the death of wheat. "
Genetic test detects hereditary diseases in babies
Instead of declaring proteins, saline or bread to be bad guys, one consequence of the tragic death would be: Have your baby examine genetic defects: a genetic test detects hereditary diseases in babies. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)