What Happens When You Lack Protein?

In most instances, you will get muscle wastage, as you body uses muscle already on your body for vital functions. If protein deficiency continues, you would develop kwashiorkor. This is when you have so little protein, that essential blood proteins are low (like albumin) and tissue fluid accumulates in the abdomen. This is why when you see pictures of starving african children, they have very emaciated bodies but swollen bellies.