In order to benefit from protein specifically for muscle growth or at least muscle retention, we need potassium and nitrogen. See this link, bottom of the page:
"Very Low Carbohydrate Diet and Preservation of Muscle Mass"
http://nmsociety.org/index.p....emid=44
Quote:
"The perception that the VLCARB leads to progressive loss
of muscle protein apparently comes from the poorly controlled
"Turkey Study" published in the New England Journal
of Medicine in 1980 [12]. The authors of this study
reported that the protein-only diet subjects were losing
nitrogen yet gaining potassium. As pointed out by Phinney
[13,14], however, potassium and nitrogen losses are
closely related, as they are both contained in lean tissue.
This anomaly occurred because the authors assumed the
potassium intake of their subjects was based upon handbook
values for raw turkey, but half of this potassium was
being discarded in the unconsumed broth. Deprived of
potassium, these subjects were unable to benefit from dietary
protein and thus lost muscle mass [14]."
