Protein deficiency: symptoms, causes and quick help

Protein deficiency can have many symptoms and causes. Not only an incorrect diet can be the reason for the protein deficiency. Diseases and other causes can also cause these deficiency symptoms. We have summarized the triggers and symptoms of a lack of proteins for you. We also show when medicine is required and a visit to the doctor is necessary.

Symptoms of protein deficiency: when the body lacks proteins

Protein deficiency is not a harmless disease. In some cases, it has serious health consequences.

• If the organism does not get enough protein, it gets it where there is a lot of protein: from the muscles. One consequence of a lack of protein is that muscle mass is lost, which leads to muscle weakness.
• This becomes dangerous, although our most important muscle, the heart muscle, is affected. The heart is nothing more than a muscle. We will explain in detail how the heart works in another guide.
• Proteins don't just give muscle strength. They are also instrumental in healing wounds. If the important proteins are missing, wound healing disorders occur.
• Another sign of protein deficiency is water retention in the tissues. These edema are medically called.
• You can also see the disorder in people suffering from protein deficiency. A lack of proteins leads to hair loss, the skin forms more wrinkles and dark circles form.
• In addition, an undersupply of proteins quickly leads to severe weight loss. The veins on the arms often stand out clearly, as do the bones on the whole body, but especially on the face.

Protein deficiency: Many causes for too little protein in the body

In industrialized countries, the lack of proteins due to insufficient protein intake is rather rare. In developing countries, however, inadequate protein intake through food is the most common cause of protein deficiency. Children are mostly affected.

• If there is a deficiency in industrialized countries like Germany, a vegan / vegetarian diet is often a possible reason for this. Because there is a lot of protein in animal products such as meat and egg. Vegetarians and vegans should therefore consume a lot of vegetable protein.
• Despite a sufficient supply of protein through food, certain diseases can lead to a lack of proteins and thus to an additional health hazard. Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract or diseases of the thyroid prevent the proteins from being absorbed into the body.
• Protein deficiency can also result from certain heart, liver, kidney or skin diseases.
• Some infectious diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis favor low protein levels and their health consequences.
• In addition to external factors, changed genetic information also plays a role if the body lacks proteins. In this case, not insufficient supply or disturbed intake leads to the deficiency. The body is then unable to produce important proteins itself.

If there is a lack of protein, the doctor is always asked

Do not try to manage your protein balance yourself if you suspect that you are deficient in protein.

• As an undersupply of proteins can have health-threatening consequences, the cause of a protein deficiency should always be clarified medically.
• The doctor should therefore always be your contact person. He will carry out the necessary examinations and suggest appropriate therapy.
• If the cause is simply a one-sided or vegan diet, the problem is quickly resolved. Nevertheless, the doctor should also keep an eye on whether the heart has already been affected.

If you do not suffer from any disease that can lead to a protein deficiency, you are on the safe side with a balanced and healthy diet.