Regularly, we hear people question how much protein can be absorbed per meal, and is there a maximum?  Is the limit 30 grams as often quoted?

The simple answer?

No! Studies have been done showing that body can deal with large amounts of protein in each meal, and it appears no reasonable limit exists (e.g. 30 gram is clearly not true).

Whilst we are sure in theory there is an upper limit, simply because you can only get so much food into the gut and be mulched down into chyme in your intestines.  Simply a limit of physical space.

So with that statement, you will be wonder where we get our information from?

These two studies showing that the consumption of an average of 80-100g of protein in 4 hours yielded no differences in lean mass. To give an idea of size – that is around 400-500g of chicken or beef in one sitting, each meal.

Studies are below for your information:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Apr;85(4):981-8.
A controlled trial of reduced meal frequency without caloric restriction in healthy, normal-weight, middle-aged adults – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17413096

Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov;90(5):1244-51. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.27327. Epub 2009 Sep 23.
Intermittent fasting does not affect whole-body glucose, lipid, or protein metabolism – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19776143