Protein Deficiency Diseases are something everyone should be aware of in the modern world. Apart from being a disease in malnutrition countries, Protein Deficiency diseases and symptoms were recently observed in Diet Plans which don’t follow the rules of the Balanced Diet Chart.
A healthy diet comprises all the nutrients in proper proportion. A diet with a low amount of protein does not fulfill your daily protein needs. It is called a protein-deficient diet. This diet can cause various health consequences, and if your body remains deficient in this nutrient for a prolonged time, it can even lead to death. It has been seen that children and elderly people are the ones who are most impacted by protein deficiency diseases.
Based on the research, it is found that people who have a low amount of animal-derived protein and are dependent on plant-based foods to meet their protein requirements experienced better health and increased lifespan. On the contrary, people who consumed diets rich in animal-derived protein were associated with early mortality, osteoporosis, liver and kidney malfunction, colon cancer, and more.
This article will look at the types of protein deficiency diseases in detail. (1)
Protein Deficiency Diseases List
The deficiency of adequate protein in the diet is the leading cause of death in children. This situation is prevalent in several poor and underdeveloped nations in the world. Marasmus and Kwashiorkor are two primary signs of protein deficiency. Kwashiorkor impacts a million children throughout the world.
Among Protein Deficiency Disease Symptoms, The major cause was a deficiency of protein and other micronutrients that included folate, iodine, vitamin C, and iron. It was characterized by various symptoms such as edema of the feet and legs, hair thinning, swelling, anemia, diarrhea, peeling skin, fatigue, irritability, light-colored hair, radiant skin, and a pot-belly.
Marasmus was another protein deficiency syndrome that affected adults and children who did not have adequate protein and calories in their diet. It was characterized by chronic fatigue, growth retardation, starvation, diarrhea, poor skin health, etc. (2) These diseases could be genetic protein deficiency diseases depending on your condition.
- Swelling
A protein-deficient diet is very low in proteins. It fails to provide the proper amounts of amino acids needed for albumin production. Due to less than permissible amounts of albumin, the body cannot hold water/fluid in the blood capillaries. Due to this, the water flows out of the blood capillaries into tissues and causes swelling.
2. Fatigue
A lack of protein in your diet, it can lead to a loss of muscle mass in the body. It reduces body strength and slows down the rate of metabolism during the day. In such a condition, the body is unable to maintain its balance. Protein deficiency can also lead to anemia, wherein the cells of the body fail to get an adequate amount of oxygen. It makes you feel extremely tired and fatigue.
3. Skin problems
Skin is an important organ in the body. A large part of it is made from protein. So, deficiency of protein in the diet also impacts this organ. It is observed in the form of redness on the skin, de-pigmented and peeling skin, and other types of skin woes. If you notice these signs, you may need to increase your protein intake.
4. Irritability
Lack of protein in the diet can also make you irritable and moody. It can put you on a roller coaster ride of emotional fluctuations. You can feel excited and overly happy at one time and depressed at the other moment. If you relate to this type of behavior, it could be because of a hormonal imbalance in the body.
Your body is not capable of making an adequate number of neurotransmitters. This leads to a change in the processing of the brain. Due to low dopamine and serotonin levels, you may either feel overly aggressive or depressed. (3)
5. Muscle wasting
Protein is the building block of the body. Our muscles are made up of it. The right amount of protein is required to keep them healthy and maintain its density in the body. If you do not consume an adequate amount of protein in your diet, then your body will start to draw protein from the muscles.
Due to low muscle protein levels, it will start to shrink in size. Not just it will impact the shape of your physique, but also reduce metabolism in the body. This is another way in which protein deficiency can lead to weight gain.
6. Infection
A lack of protein impacts the functioning of every organ in the body. It impairs the immune system, which may make your system disabled to fight against infections. It has been seen that the major cause behind the death of undernourished children is diarrhea and pneumonia that result from viral or bacterial infection.
Less than adequate amounts of protein in the diet cause the immune system to compromise. Due to this, the body is susceptible to external attacks and getting infected. So, protein deficiency is closely linked to the suppression of your body’s defense mechanism and leads to infection. (4)
7. Hair And Nail Problems
As our nails and hair are largely composed of protein, the deficiency of this nutrient can adversely impact their appearance, texture, and health. It is also visible in the form of faded hair color, dull and lifeless hair, brittle and shineless nails, thinning of hair/hair loss, etc.
8. Bone Fractures
Another sign of protein deficiency is that it can reduce the density of bones. Poor protein intake can cause your bones to become weaker and more susceptible to damage and fracture. People who eat a protein-deficient diet are at a high risk of broken bones, joint pain, and other bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis. Eating the right amount of protein helps preserve the density and strength of bones intact. (5)
9. Increased Calorie Intake
Protein gives you a feeling of fullness and satiety. It prevents frequent hunger pangs that can increase calorie intake in your body. In this way, adequate-protein intake helps prevent excess consumption of calories in the body. However, when you do not consume the right amounts of protein in your diet, it can lead to food cravings and unhealthy eating. All this can contribute to calorie surplus in the body, which leads to weight gain.
10. Kidney Problems
Lack of protein in the diet affects almost every organ in the body. This includes kidneys too. The organ also needs adequate protein for its optimal functioning; otherwise, it can lead to Protein Deficiency Diseases of impaired kidney function and chronic kidney disease.
11. Heart Problems
Protein deficiency in the body is also responsible for causing heart diseases. A diet low in protein restricts the development of hypertrophy to the load that, in turn, leads to heart failure. Prolonged low consumption of this nutrient can lead to abnormal coagulation in the blood. The person is at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis in the veins of extremities in the body. Low protein intake can also result in a low heart rate. (6)
Frequently asked questions about Protein Deficiency Diseases.
Here are some of the commonly asked questions on protein deficiency diseases.
Which disease is caused by a deficiency of protein?
Protein deficiency is the main cause behind death in children who are less than five years old. Lack of this nutrient in your daily diet leads to swelling, skin issues, extreme tiredness, irritability, skin issues, muscle loss, and infection. In cases when the infection is severe, it can even lead to the death of the person.
What are the disorders of proteins?
Following are the disorders of deficiency of protein in a person:
1. Hair, nail and skin problems
2. Reduced muscle mass
3. Increased possibilities of bone breakage and fractures
4. increased calorie consumption and a bigger appetite
5. impaired immune system and increased chances of getting infected
6. weight gain
6. Fatty liver
7. Retarded development in children
What are the symptoms of protein deficiency?
Several signs indicate that the body does not have an adequate amount of protein in the body.
1) flaky and red skin,
2) depigmented hair
3) brittle nails
4) reduced muscle density
5) bone fractures
6) food cravings
7) infections.
8) Fatty liver.
9) retarded growth
If you notice the above signs, then it is time to increase protein in your daily diet. Quick identification of protein deficiency and timely measures can help prevent major diseases.
What are the causes of protein deficiency?
Several causes lead to a deficiency of protein in the body. Major ones being:
1. malnutrition,
2. dieting,
3. undereating,
4. Hypoproteinemia, is a state wherein a person doesn’t consume adequate calories or avoids the intake of specific food groups.
5. The liver is responsible for processing proteins in the body. Liver disorders such as cirrhosis and hepatitis can lead to a deficiency of this nutrient in the body.
6. Protein deficiency can also be due to damaged or malfunctioning kidneys that fail to function properly and causes leakage of protein into the urine.
7. Another cause of protein deficiency is autoimmune damage that happens to the small intestine. The result is seen in the form of the reduced absorption of several nutrients in the body; one of them is protein.
8. Inflammatory bowel disease can also lead to a lack of the required amount of protein in the body. The disease leads to inflammation in the small intestine. This damage can lead to various types of nutritional deficiencies that include
9. hypothermia.
