A nurse is teaching a client who has chronic kidney failure about planning a low-protein diet. The client states, "Why do I have to be concerned about protein?" Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Rationale: A. Hyperkalemia results from impaired potassium excretion in kidney failure, not protein intake. Potassium restriction, not protein restriction, helps manage this risk. B. Edema occurs due to sodium and fluid retention and low albumin levels, not directly from protein intake. Limiting protein does not control edema; managing fluid and sodium intake does. C. Uremia results from the accumulation of nitrogenous waste products from protein metabolism. By limiting dietary protein, the production of urea and other nitrogenous wastes is reduced, helping prevent worsening of uremic symptoms. D. The opposite is true. High protein intake increases nitrogenous waste production, whereas a low-protein diet helps decrease these waste levels and slows the progression of kidney damage.