Increased severity and risk of infections
A protein deficit diet can also affect the immune system of the body. Protein deficiency impairs the function of immune system thus increasing the severity and risk of infections, which is very common among protein deficiency patients. An animal study shows that following a diet including only 2% of protein portion associates directly with a severe influenza infection as compared to the diets having 18% protein portion. In fact, marginally low intake of protein might impair immune function. In older women, low-protein diet for a consecutive nine week period can potentially reduce the immune response thus leaving them to suffer from more infections.