8 Signs you Might be Suffering from Protein Deficiency

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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:33 Edema
1:06 Fatty Liver
1:35 Problems in Skin, Hair and Nails
2:03 Muscle Mass Loss
2:26 Increased risk of bone fractures
2:52 Slower Clotting
3:08 Longer lasting Infections
3:24 Greater Appetite





• Proteins are the most nutrients for the human body. 
• They are necessary for growth and maintenance. Proteins are the building block of your body cells, hormones, enzymes, skin, hair, and body tissues. 
• Therefore, protein deficiency can result in major health problems, such as kwashiorkor, that can lower your quality of life or even be life-threatening. 
• Here are 8 signs that might indicate protein deficiency:
Edema
• Edema is swelling caused by the leakage of fluids from blood vessels into the tissues that surround them. 
• This usually happens if the blood lacks albumin, a protein that is responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure. 
• Oncotic pressure maintains blood flow in the blood vessels. 
• The blood vessels cannot regular blood flow if the body is short on albumin, which results in fluid leakage and inflammation of the surrounding tissues.
• This ultimately causes the area to swell. 
Fatty Liver
• A fatty liver is a common symptom of kwashiorkor. 
• This takes place due to an accumulation of fats by the cells of the liver. 
• Fatty livers are usually found in alcoholics and obese people. 
• However, protein deficiency results in a decrease of lipoproteins, which are fat-transporting proteins. 
• Due to their short numbers, fats tend to accumulate in the liver cells, causing the organ to bloat. 
Problems in Skin, Hair, and Nails
• The skin, hair, and nails are primarily made up of proteins. 
• Severe protein deficiency can result in damage to them. 
• The skin might become flaky, redden, and start to blister. 
• The hair might thin, lose color, and even fall off the scalp. 
• While the nails can become brittle. 
• Kwashiorkor in children is typically identified by checking the condition of the skin. 
Muscle Mass Loss
• Protein deficiency means that you will not have enough of the nutrient to maintain your muscles, much less grow them. 
• Over time, your muscles will start to grow weak and lose mass. 
• This condition is known as muscle wasting, and it is far more prominent in the elderly. 
• Increased protein intake is believed to slow down muscle degeneration in the elderly. 
Increased Risk of Bone Fractures
• Your bones consist of a protein known as collagen. 
• Collagen makes the bones strong and gives them structure. 
• Thus, protein deficiency can cause your bones to weaken and can increase the risk of fractures. 
• Studies have shown that decreased protein intake as you grow older can result in more bone fractures, with hip fractures being the most prominent kind.