10 Protein Deficiency Symptoms
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Symptom #1: Loss of Muscle Mass
Muscles contain the highest amount of protein in the whole body. When protein intake severely decreases, the body must use the skeletal muscle reserves. This is why long-term protein deficiency leads to loss of muscle mass.
In adults, severe protein deficiency leads to muscle wasting, while in the elderly and the very young, moderate protein deficiency leads to serious muscle wasting. One study found that the lower the amount of protein taken by the elderly, the greater the loss of muscle mass. Also, there are studies suggesting that increased protein intake slows down the process of aging and muscle degeneration.
