Which of the following is a potential health risk associated with high-protein diets?

High-protein diets can pose potential health risks, particularly concerning kidney health. When protein intake is significantly increased, it places additional strain on the kidneys because they are responsible for filtering waste products generated from protein metabolism. Particularly in individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions, a high-protein diet may exacerbate the situation, leading to impaired kidney function over time.

Conversely, while weight gain can occur if calorie intake exceeds expenditure, this is not a direct risk of high protein intake alone. Increased fiber intake is typically associated with well-balanced diets and can often be neglected in high-protein diets rather than being a health risk. Additionally, lower cholesterol levels are not inherently linked to high-protein diets and may depend on the source of protein consumed. Thus, the connection between high-protein diets and kidney strain makes this the relevant health concern.