Protein is part of every cell, organ and tissue of your body. Since proteins break down, you need to replace some every day. Although the body produces some amino acids, the building blocks of protein, it also needs nine essential amino acids that come only from food. If you eat too little protein or cannot absorb enough of it through your diet, you may develop a protein deficiency that is detected by a low protein level in the blood.
Total Protein Level
Your health-care provider may order a blood test for protein levels if she suspects kidney disease, liver disease or nutritional problems. The total protein test measures the amount of two proteins in your blood. Globulin is an important part of the immune system and albumin prevents fluid from leaking from your blood vessels. If your results do not fall within the normal range of 6.0 to 8.3 g/dl, you will need further testing to determine the specific problem, according to MedLinePlus. Another test measures only the serum albumin level, which should range between 3.4 and 5.4 g/dl, according to MedLinePlus.
Low Protein Levels
A number of diseases and conditions can cause low blood protein results. Low total protein levels may be the result of malnutrition or malabsorption caused by surgery on the digestive system. Other possible causes of low protein levels include extensive burns, hemorrhage, liver disease, kidney disease or agammaglobulinemia, an inherited disorder, according to MedLinePlus. Low serum albumin levels may occur as a result of eating a low protein diet, poor absorption after weight loss surgery, gastrointestinal diseases, liver disease or kidney disease.
Protein Requirements
Most healthy adults get enough protein from eating a balanced diet to meet their average needs of about 50 g per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weight loss surgery patients, however, need more protein -- 60 g to 80 g per day -- but gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion patients may develop protein deficiency because they eat less food and absorb fewer nutrients, according to Linda Aills, R.D., lead researcher of a study published in the September 2008 issue of "Surgery for Obesity Related Diseases."
Protein Deficiency
When an individual stops eating enough food to meet her daily needs or can no longer absorb enough nutrients from her food, the body goes into survival mode by burning fat and muscle for energy. Although the body adjusts at first, eventually the person develops protein deficiency, which can cause weakness, muscle wasting and hair loss. Protein deficiency or protein-energy malnutrition often occurs in conjunction with iron anemia and deficiencies in copper, vitamin B-12, zinc, thiamine, vitamin B-6 and folic acid, according to Aills. Other effects of burning muscle and losing excess amounts of water can cause disturbances of potassium, sodium, magnesium and phosphorus levels.
Treatment
Protein deficiency related to malabsorption or low protein intake, as occurs with some weight loss surgery patients, may be treated with a high-protein liquid diet at first, followed eventually by a regular diet. Severely ill patients may need hospitalization and intravenous feedings, but these cases are rare, according to Aills. If the patient's protein deficiency occurs due to vomiting that cannot be resolved, surgery reversal may be needed.
References
- "Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 4"; ASMBS Allied Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patients; Linda Aills, R.D., et al.; September 2008
- "Journal of the American Dietetic Association"; Nutrition and Athletic Performance; American Dietetic Association, et al.; March 2009
- CDC: Protein
- MedLinePlus: Total Protein
- MedLinePlus: Albumin - Serum
