Diseases Caused From Protein Deficiency

Protein deficiency can be cause due to malnutrition or unhealthy eating habits. It is also caused if enough protein rich foods are not consumed as part of the diet. Although most cases of protein deficiency are due to inadequate intake of protein foods, there are a few who suffer from congenital protein C or S deficiency.

Diseases Caused from Protein Deficiency:
Protein deficiency is believed to be one of the reasons for diseases like breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Congenital protein C or S deficiency causes abnormal blood clotting. This disorder causes an increased risk of clot formation, called thrombosis.

A specific wasting away disease caused by protein deficiency due to malnutrition in third world countries is called kwashiorkor. This disease is found in infants who are weaned away. The weaning food is seen to lack proteins or has a poor quality of protein. The weaning diet for these young children leads to other nutrient deficiency diseases as well. Marasmus is another condition of a wasting away of the body tissues from the lack of protein in the diet. Protein deficiency also inhibits the growth and proper development in children.

Protein deficiency also causes numerous problems like loss of weight, weakness, shrinkage of muscle tissue and edema. Other syndromes include unusually low blood pressure, unusually low heart rate, anemia and pigmentation on the skin. The metabolism rate is also likely to decrease. It is also believed to lead to fatty infiltration and cirrhosis of the liver.

Protein deficiency also results in poor healing of wounds. This increases the risk of surgery.

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Diseases Caused From Protein Deficiency