Anemia due to protein deficiency

Anemia is a reduction of hemoglobin in red blood cells below normal levels.

Patients with protein deficiency anemia also show signs of multiple nutritional deficiencies, especially of folic acid, vitamin B12, and iron.

Protein is essential for the proper production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Due to deficiency of proteins, the synthesis of hemoglobin is reduced. The RBCs are macrocytic and hypochromic.

The deficiency protein results in decreased formation of all hematopoietic cells. Hematopoietic cells are lodged within the bone marrow that give rise to all the other blood cells and are derived from mesoderm.

A mild normocytic anemia develops after 6 months of semi-starvation and after 3 months of complete starvation.

In chronic protein deficiency, the decreased RBC production is proportionate to the reduced by decreased secretion of erythroproietin.
Anemia due to protein deficiency

Protein deficiency - Kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor is the condition that occurs mainly due to protein deficiency. Kwashiorkor is a Ghanaian word that refers to the birth position of a child and is used to describe the illness a child develops when the next child is born. Typically it appears in small children after nursing is stopped, as they receive insufficient proteins and too much of their caloric intake.

Kwashiorkor usually develops rapidly as a result of protein deficiency or more commonly is precipitate by an illness such as a measles or other infection.

In kwashiorkor, the protein deficiency is more marked than the energy deficiency, leading to much reduced protein synthesis. One effect of this is that the liver cannot make enough blood plasma protein.

Without protein to maintain fluid balance and low serum albumin levels, the child’s limbs and abdomen become swollen with edema – a distinguishing feature of kwashiorkor.

Kwashiorkor usually develops in children older than 6 months, generally when they cease to nurse. The symptoms of kwashiorkor include: low body weight, edema, moon-face. Swollen abdomen, dry and brittle hair, skin conditions and irritability.
Protein deficiency - Kwashiorkor

Protein and Amino Acid Deficiency

Protein and Amino Acid Deficiency
Uncomplicated protein for amino acid deficiency probably never occurs in man.

The disease syndrome of kwashiorkor first described in 1933 is believed to be due to protein deficiency, but it occurs to varying degrees in conjunction with calorie deficiency.

For this reason the term protein-calorie malnutrition is preferred to the more limiting terms, kwashiorkor or marasmus.

The disease syndrome is variable source the degree in both calorie and protein malnutrition, as well as the nutrients, will influence the biochemical and clinical changes.

In uncomplicated protein deficiency, for example, protein catabolism should be minimal when total energy is the limiting factor, however, protein catabolism must increase to cover energy needs.

Severe marasmus or choric starvation , is characterized by growth retardation , loss of body fat, and muscle wasting.

When total caloric intake has been adequate or nearly adequate, as is possible when starchy low protein foods are dietary staples, the symptoms are more toward changes associated with protein deficiency pellagra-type dermatitis, fatty liver, changes in texture and pigmentation of hair, gastro intestinal disturbances and diarrhea with resulting loss of electrolytes.

The lesion appears to be the result of a deficiency of amino acid for protein synthesis and indeed most of the symptoms can attributed to reduced synthesis.
Protein and Amino Acid Deficiency