What Causes Protein Deficiency?
Protein deficiency arises primarily from insufficient dietary protein intake. However, several other factors can contribute or worsen the condition.
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Insufficient Dietary Protein: The most common cause is simply not consuming enough protein-rich foods in your diet. This is often linked to poverty, food insecurity, or restrictive dietary choices. [This is supported by multiple sources, including ScienceDirect Topics, Healthline, and Medical News Today.]
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Low-Quality Protein Intake: Consuming proteins lacking essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein, can lead to deficiency even with adequate caloric intake. [This is confirmed by ScienceDirect Topics.]
Contributing Factors:
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Overall Reduced Food Intake: Malnutrition, often stemming from poverty or eating disorders, significantly reduces overall calorie consumption, including protein. [This is supported by Medical News Today and Healthline.]
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Underlying Medical Conditions: Certain illnesses interfere with protein absorption or increase protein needs. Examples include:
- Liver disorders: The liver plays a vital role in protein metabolism. [Healthline mentions liver disorders as a contributing factor.]
- Kidney problems: Kidney disease can affect protein filtration and excretion. [Healthline lists kidney problems as a cause.]
- Infections: Infections can increase protein requirements and impair absorption. [ScienceDirect Topics supports this.]
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Pregnancy: Increased protein demand during pregnancy can lead to deficiency if dietary intake isn't adjusted accordingly. [Healthline highlights pregnancy as a risk factor.]
Severe Protein Deficiency:
Severe protein deficiency is known as kwashiorkor, characterized by edema (swelling) and abdominal distention. [Cleveland Clinic defines and describes kwashiorkor.]
It's important to note that some specific genetic conditions can lead to problems with specific protein production or function, but these are usually rare disorders like mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency. [MedlinePlus Genetics describes this rare condition.] Protein S deficiency is another example of a rarer condition where the body doesn't produce enough of a specific protein involved in blood clotting. [NORD and Cleveland Clinic discuss protein S deficiency].
