Muscle Wasting
Arguably the most noticeable and detrimental symptom of a deficient level of protein is what is called muscle wasting. This occurs when the body is not getting enough protein from food so it takes drastic measures, getting the needed protein from skeletal muscles. Luckily, it does this in lieu of getting them from more important tissues, which can have a severe, negative impact on certain bodily functions. Muscle wasting results in a lack of energy and a decrease in strength. Although individuals who are limiting their calorie intake in order to lose weight, going about it in a way that leads to protein deficiency, it can have unwanted effects such as a decreased ability to do physical activity. Older individuals are at an increased risk of experiencing muscle wasting due to protein deficiency, likely due to the fact that they do not usually have a large amount of muscle tissue to begin with.
