Could Protein Shakes Harm Your Health?

(CBS)  For many people trying to get in shape or bulk up quickly, protein shakes are part of a daily workout regime.

Protein drinks are being advertised as a way to boost fitness, and that marketing targets everyone from body builders to teenagers.

But, according to a new study, over-consuming some of those products could be dangerous.

"Early Show" Consumer Correspondent Susan Koeppen takes a look at an investigation being released Monday by Consumer Reports.

Though manufacturers and salesmen say that these products are safe, the new study says some protein drinks may cause health problems over time. The investigation found some contain things like arsenic, cadmium, and lead.

CBS News took a hidden camera to nutrition stores in New York City asking about these supplemental drinks, but not one sales person warned about possible health risks.

Some said taking more than recommended doses wouldn't hurt.

But trainer/dietician Erin Palinski says, not so. "They're actually going to harm their health if they do excessive amounts," said Palinski.

Experts say too much protein can lead to dehydration and digestive problems, increase your risk for osteoporosis, and for some people, cause kidney problems.

And now, an investigation appearing in the July issue of Consumer Reports finds that some protein drinks could be toxic, if you take too much.

Says CR's Urvashi Rangan, "We tested about 15 different types of protein drinks. ... And we actually looked for four different heavy metals. We looked for arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead."

Test results found heavy metals present in all 15 drinks -- some more than others.

Consumer Reports says three products were of particular concern -- because consuming three servings a day could result in exposure to arsenic, cadmium or lead that exceed proposed limits for contaminants:

• Eas Myoplex (Arsenic, Cadmium)
• Muscle Milk-Chocolate (Cadmium, Lead)
• Muscle Milk-Vanilla Crème (Lead)

Urvashi Rangan, Consumer Reports, said, "What we're concerned about here is the chronic low level exposure of a heavy metal. And what people should know, is that heavy metals, once they come into our bodies, once they're metabolized, they tend to stay there for a long period of time."

The supplement industry disputes claims that protein shakes could be harmful.

Andrew Shao, of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, says, "The results of this analysis aren't alarming. The heavy metals that were found are well below the limits FDA (Food and Drug Administration) would be concerned about, so they don't pose a health risk to consumers at all."

But Consumer Reports says there is little regulation requiring manufacturers to prove their protein drinks are safe.

"We think the FDA should be tracking these products better," says Rangan, "and that is not happening at this time."

The manufacturers of those three products say independent testing shows their products are within government safety standards even if taken three times a day.

Still, CR notes there other ways to get protein at a cheapter price, such as:

• Half a chicken breast (27 grams of protein, 62 cents per serving)
• Three glasses of milk (23 grams of protein, 60 cents per serving)
• Three scrambled eggs (20 grams of protein, 46 cents per serving)

[subbuthevar]

can you please detail about protine drinks ...i want to take protine to build my muscle..

[missellison2007]

I find it so alarming that many products have been found to be contaminated with lead. If you have purchased these products and would like to participate in a class action lawsuit, then I highly recommend Howard Rubinstein ([e-mail]). He is helping my boyfriend!!

[Advocaredistributor]

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[Kabronazo22]

Drinking to much water is toxic and can be fatal so should we be stressed out about consuming to much water also?

This is from Wikipedia.
Water intoxication (also known as hyper-hydration or water poisoning) is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by over-consumption of water.

[AgileChamp]

EAS MyoPlex, Muscle Milk users you need to be aware of this. The levels of heavy metals (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic) are within the standards but I wouldn't want my kids taking anything with these toxins. I have a healthier more effective option for you... www.agilechampions.com (AdvoCare)

[draftstout]

The FDA should get involved in regulating these things more thoroughly. Not saying they would ever get around to their inspections http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36234287/ns/health-food_safety/
but it would lead to improvements in the products and make it safer for people in general.

[teeker716]

DO ANYBODY KNOW IF THE AMPLIFIED WHEYBOLIC EXTREME 60 HAS ANY OF THE METALS N IT?

[Phatdiamond]

The testing methods need to be reviewed by an outside source. Protein powders and drinks are 2 different products. However, it looks to me like Muscle Milk and EAS need to do some quality control. No one else was even close. Props to the guy who pointed out that the chocolate products tended to be higher in the heavy metals. For the record, I take 2 scoops of ON Gold Series Whey in the morning, eat chicken non-stop and I doubt that I get 200g of protein a day (my body weight). It's not as easy as they say it is to overdose on protein. 15 years of bodybuilding experience says that if you don't get enough protein, you don't get stronger\more mass.

[KarolinaKid44]

They say one alcoholic drink a day is good for you. But if you induldge then it's obviously going turn out to be a bad thing. It's the same for supplements. That's why there is a recommended "dosage", for lack of a better term here. I have been lifting weights and taking supplements for over a decade and have had NO problems whatsoever...creatine and protein shakes.

It's not even good for you to lift heavy every month of the year. It's even recommended to lighten your load every couple of months. They even tell you to lay off of creatine and protein after so many months of usage...then jump back on. After a while these people will start telling you that organic foods are "bad for you". It seems to me the gov wants to control people in EVERY way...down to what we consume. Who governs the Gov? This is starting to get out of control. Hell, if you drink too much water you could possible die...and water is the best thing for you. The key word here is moderation. You're not suppose to work the same muscle groups everyday...they need rest at some point in time. Like some other posters said...too much of anything can be bad for you. Protein shakes are fine...I haven't had a problem EVER from protein shakes...or creatine for that matter.

[ccorsillo07]

For what it's worth, I had a heavy metals blood screen done the day after I read the consumer reports article. Specifically, I average about one scoop of BSN Syntha 6 a day (one of the powders named in the article), and I have been using it since about 2006. My results came back negative.

[jsneary]

I've been into fitness my whole life and have never had a problem. What people don't know is the our government is trying to shut down our supplement industry. This has been going on for years and is finally coming to a head. I'm not sure but I believe this was just a tactic to get the mass public on their side. Protein powder isn't the only thing they are going after they don't want the public to be able to buy vitamins and minerals also. A couple months ago our government loss a major case in which it would take away all supplements. How convenient that this report came out after they lost their case. I'm not saying that these protein powders don't have small amounts of heavy metals. And I agree that no one wants them there, but here's my point. I'm a very healthy person I buy all fresh produce and meats. Do you know how much worse our whole foods are than these protein powders. Even Susan Koeppen at the end of the Early Show said that you can get the same amounts of metals in your diet from eating potatoes, rice, and leafy greens, but they didn't expound on that. I believe our whole food industry should have a make over, not just protein powders. I eat six to eight meals a day, all healthy. I get the same amount or more contaminants in real food than protein powders. It just seems odd is all that more people get sick from food that we buy at the grocery stores than protein powders and they want to make a stink about protein powders. It could be a coincidence but I'm sure our government pushed for this story. If they can get the mass public scared about supplements than maybe they can win their case.