Whether you suffer from a protein deficiency disease or limit your protein intake for other reasons, it can lead to negative consequences. The body needs protein is needed for many purposes, including cell/tissue production, hormone production and immune system function. According to Lisa Cicciarello Andrews of the University of Cincinnati, most Americans consume plenty of protein in their current diet, so low protein intake is pretty rare.
RDA
It’s not hard for most people to reach the recommended dietary allowance for protein. According to the Student Nutrition Awareness Campaign initiative at the University of California Los Angeles, the RDA for sedentary individuals is 0.36 g per lb. of body weight per day. This means a 150 lb. person needs about 54 g protein per day. You can reach this RDA by eating two 3 oz. servings of meat and two glasses of milk per day. If you exercise regularly, you may need as much as 0.82 g of protein per lb. of body weight. If you’re consuming below the RDA for protein, you may notice symptoms of edema, fatigue, lethargy or muscle loss.
Muscle
Protein plays a major in role in muscle development. This is easy to see if you look at how much protein a bodybuilder consumes daily, which can easily exceed 1 g of protein per lb. of body weight per day. While you probably don’t need nearly this much protein, consuming too little protein can lead to muscle atrophy, or loss of muscle tissue. When your body is low on amino acids -- the building blocks of protein -- it breaks down muscle to get the amino acids it needs. This causes your muscles to virtually waste away over time.
Immune System
The protein you eat helps keep your immune system healthy. Protein is a necessary component in cells that fight bacteria and viruses in the body. The first line of defense against antigens – disease-causing bacteria/viruses in the body -- for the immune system is a group of proteins called the complement system. Other disease-fighting cells called T-cells and B-cells also require protein to multiply in your body. Low protein intake will cause you to become sick much easier and prolong your sickness, as your body is ill-equipped to fight the sickness.
Wound Healing
Your body can’t repair itself efficiently without an adequate amount of protein. This leaves your body at a greater risk of muscle-related injuries, and prolongs the length of time your body takes to heal all other wounds, according to the Student Nutrition Awareness Campaign of UCLA. Low protein intake also can lower absorption of dietary calcium, iron and zinc. These minerals are necessary for healthy bones and muscles.
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