It’s no secret that here at NativePath we’re big believers in a high-protein diet. Not only is this macronutrient an essential building block of bone, muscle, cartilage, skin, hair, and nails. It’s also key to maintaining muscle mass, a healthy weight, digestion, cellular repair, and hormone regulation (1, 2).
However, billions of people aren’t getting enough protein. If that’s you, you may have something called hypoproteinemia—a condition in which you have lower-than-normal protein levels in your blood. And because your body doesn’t store protein, you need to eat it every day.
If you aren’t getting enough protein, you may experience issues like muscle loss, a weak immune system, a weakened heart and lungs, and an overall lower quality of life. If you’re an older adult, hypoproteinemia can make you feel weaker or more “frail”, and if you have osteoporosis, it can increase your risk of fractures (3, 4).
Protein deficiency varies in its severity and its symptoms. Many cases in the US are on the more mild end, but hypoproteinemia is a global issue with far-reaching effects. It’s estimated that around one billion people on the planet aren’t getting enough protein; and in Central Africa and South Asia, as many as 30% of children aren’t getting enough (5, 6).
In this article, we’ll cover the symptoms, causes, and risks of hypoproteinemia, as well as how to treat it.