Protein Deficiency

"Moderation refers to having the proper amount of a nutrient—having neither too little nor too much. A healthy diet incorporates all nutrients in moderation. Low protein intake has several health consequences, and a severe lack of protein in the diet eventually causes death. Although severe protein deficiency is a rare occurrence in children and adults in the United States, it is estimated that more than half of the elderly in nursing homes are protein-deficient. The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for protein for adults is between 10 and 35 percent of kilocalories. The percent of protein in the diet that is associated with malnutrition and its health consequences is less than 10 percent, but this is often accompanied by deficiencies in calories and other micronutrients. Although severe protein deficiency is rare in the developed world, it is a leading cause of death in children in many poor, underdeveloped countries. There are two main syndromes associated with protein deficiencies: Kwashiorkor and Marasmus. Kwashiorkor affects millions of children worldwide. The name Kwashiorkor comes from a language in Ghana and means “rejected one.” It occurred most commonly in children who had recently been weaned from the breast and then fed watery porridge made from low-protein grains. Kwashiorkor is characterized by swelling, or edema, of the feet and abdomen, poor skin health, growth retardation, low muscle mass, and liver malfunction. Diets extremely low in protein do not provide enough amino acids for the synthesis of albumin. One function of albumin is to hold water in the blood vessels, so lower concentrations of blood albumin result in water moving into tissues and causing swelling. Primary symptoms also include diarrhea, fatigue, peeling skin, and irritability. Severe protein deficiency together with deficiencies of folate, iodine, iron, and vitamin C contribute to the many health manifestations of this syndrome."