Proteins are the basic building blocks for the body--integral components of muscles and most other tissues. As such, they serve important functions in the growth and development of the human body. Also serving as enzymes and hormones that regulate the body's metabolic functions, proteins are important components of the immune system as well. Low blood protein level, which can result from liver or kidney disease, malnutrition, or malabsorption of proteins from the stomach, has several side effects.
Edema
Edema is the swelling caused when excess fluid accumulates in the body's tissues. According to the Mayo Clinic, edema results when fluid leaks from the capillaries, the tiniest blood vessels in the body. One cause of edema is decreased protein level in the blood. Albumin, the main protein circulating in the blood stream, helps keep fluid inside the blood vessels by attracting water. When the levels of this protein decrease, water starts leaking from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, causing edema. Low albumin levels usually accompany certain kidney diseases, such as nephrotic syndrome, in which albumin is lost in the urine.
Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor is a severe form of malnutrition in children, resulting from not enough protein in the diet. According to Medline Plus, this condition occurs in poor countries where there are not enough resources to provide children with a well-balanced diet. The signs and symptoms of kwashiorkor include decreased muscle mass, diarrhea, fatigue, brittle skin and hair, a protruding abdomen, rashes and frequent infections due to a weakened immune system. Care must be taken when reintroducing protein in the diet, as sudden intake of protein after severe malnutrition can cause dangerous electrolyte abnormalities.
Muscle Wasting
Because skeletal muscles--the muscle bundles that help with the body's various movements--are the major reservoir of protein in the body, low blood protein results in muscle wasting. One common cause of muscle wasting is malnutrition, as the body starts breaking down protein to generate energy for its metabolic processes. According to the Merck Manual of Geriatrics, the elderly require protein nutritional support to prevent muscle weakness and wasting, as protein metabolism slows down with age.
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