We are not licensed to give medical advice here, but for informative purposes only: the types of protein in that particular protein supplement (whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, and soy protein isolate) are not something to specifically fear with regard to kidney damage.

The thing to be careful about here is the amount of his protein consumption, not which types. Each serving of GNC Amplified Mass XXX contains 50 grams of protein, and people building muscle should get about 0.8 grams of protein each day per pound of body weight that they have. (Inactive people need about half that much.) The fact is, he’s probably getting enough protein already from his normal diet. It’s worth crunching the numbers to check before continuing.

And if your son is just starting his new workout routine and making a change in his diet at the same time, it’s a good idea to check with the doctor first. GNC Amplified Mass XXX isn’t just a simple protein powder — it also has performance-boosting additives like creatine, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can cause asthmatic symptoms and should be avoided by people with allergies.

But if your son is serious enough about bodybuilding that he is willing to track his diet for a few days and crunch the numbers with you, and check with the doctor before continuing, then GNC Amplified Mass XXX should be just fine. Tell him to drink plenty of water, too!

All the best,

Travis

Most Americans already get more protein in their diets than they need, but to get the biggest gains it’s important to make sure the timing of your intake is right. To answer your question, with your weight and resistance-training regimen, you should be getting 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, which works out to about 160 grams of protein for you daily. Considering that the average medium-sized steak contains about 60 grams of protein, if you eat a lot of meat you’re probably getting enough protein in your overall diet.

But where protein shakes can help is for immediate post-workout nutrition. If you’re having trouble getting normal food within the 40 to 60 minutes after a pump, you’ll want to start taking a protein shake each time and “trade out” a small portion of meat from a regular meal to make room for the additional protein in your diet from the supplement. Also note that some of the world’s most successful bodybuilders eat very little (or no) meat. Long-term bodybuilding is most sustainable when supported by a balanced diet of flora and fauna, so you can always trade meat in for things like legumes, dairy, and even soy if you’re looking for a bit more variety.

And of course, we have to say: none of these comments should be taken as official medical diagnosis or advice. Please check with your physician before making any large changes to your lifestyle or diet.