In Nigeria, many households are currently facing economic challenges, with children under five at risk of developing health issues like anemia and eye problems due to protein deficiency, according to nutrition experts.
Pregnant and lactating women are also vulnerable to the effects of insufficient protein intake. Protein deficiency occurs when the body lacks adequate protein or essential amino acids.
The World Health Organization emphasizes that insufficient food quantity and diversity contribute to health problems like child malnutrition and stunted growth in low-income countries. Malnutrition increases the likelihood of diseases and premature death, with many neurological disorders being preventable.
Nutritionists highlight that children under five are particularly susceptible to protein deficiency due to their heightened need for protein to support growth and development.
Protein deficiency in young children can lead to various issues such as stunted growth, eye problems, cognitive impairment, weakened immunity, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
Inadequate consumption of protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, milk, and legumes, along with the presence of diseases, are significant factors contributing to protein deficiency.
He emphasized, “For us to appreciate the reason for the rise in protein deficiency in Nigeria, especially among children, we need to know the causes of protein deficiency. There are about three levels of causes – immediate cause, underlying cause, and basic cause.
“The immediate cause is predisposed by the underlying cause, which is mainly due to household food insecurity, inadequate care, sanitation and access to health care, which are also hinged on lack of nutrition education.
“The basic cause of protein deficiency is poverty, unemployment and lack of basic infrastructures. If you consider the fact that Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world and the predominant lack of basic amenities and a poor health care system, it is therefore clear that protein deficiency will always be on the increase.
“Protein deficiency has serious health implications. Bearing in mind that protein is a major component of almost all parts of the body – blood (haemoglobin), eye, muscle, and hair, it then becomes obvious that its deficiency can lead to several health risks such as anaemia, retarded growth, eye problems, and even death.
“Children and women, especially pregnant and lactating women, are most affected by protein deficiency.
“Children are affected because of their high protein requirement for growth and development. Pregnant and lactating women also require protein for the proper growth of the foetus and milk production respectively.”
The nutritionist highlighted that protein deficiency in pregnancy could have severe consequences on both mother and child.
He emphasized that protein deficiency could lead to anaemia, which he noted was one of the major causes of maternal mortality during pregnancy.
Giving further insight into the health implications of protein deficiency, Nkwoala said, “The foetus is not left out; a woman that is deficient in protein during pregnancy has the risk of losing the foetus.
“The foetus may also be born with low birth weight, which is a result of retarded organs such as brain, pancreas, lungs, heart, etc, which predisposes the baby to several health issues in adulthood such as diabetes, hypertension, and also limited productivity.
“In children under five, protein deficiency can lead to retarded growth, poor cognitive development, lowered immunity, fatigue, and lack of concentration.
“These consequences may be irreversible and affect all aspects of the child’s development even in education attainment and productivity later in life.”
According to UNICEF, Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five.
“An estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition, but only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment. Seven percent of women of childbearing age also suffer from acute malnutrition”, says UNICEF.
Listing ways to tackle protein deficiency, the nutritionist noted, “The fight against protein deficiency should be fought from the basic cause, which entails creating an opportunity to lift people out of poverty, provide infrastructures and access to basic amenities such as health care facilities.
“These will provide opportunities for individuals and households to have unhindered access to available, affordable, safe, and nutritious foods.
“However, households and individuals need adequate nutrition education in order to know how to combine locally available foods to make nutritious and safe meals for their children and other vulnerable groups in the household.
“They should also maximise their resources in diversifying the foods they consume to meet their nutritional requirements.”
According to Professor Beatrice Ogunba, a Public Health Nutrition expert at Obafemi Awolowo University, women planning pregnancy should prioritize good nutritional status beforehand.
This crucial step helps prevent child malnutrition, as nutritional deficiencies often begin during pregnancy.
Ogunba emphasizes the direct link between pre-conception nutrition and healthy fetal development.
She warns that women with anemia before pregnancy are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies, underscoring the importance of maternal nutrition for optimal child health.
She explained, “Iron is key when it has to do with pregnancy. When a woman’s nutritional status is poor in pregnancy, it has implications for the development of the baby. For those that are anaemic before pregnancy, if they don’t report to the hospital on time for the doctor to monitor their iron status, the chances of having a baby with low birth weight are high.
“So, it is important for women to build up their nutritional status before pregnancy. I will recommend a minimum of six months for women to begin to build their nutritional status before pregnancy by boosting their iron status and having enough iron when they are pregnant.
“ It is important because, in the first three months of pregnancy, most women have food issues. Some find it difficult to eat. So, if a woman has enough iron before conception, even if she is finding it difficult to eat, the baby already has enough iron to fall back on.
“The baby will not have issues with development and formation if the mother has good nutritional status before conception. But after the first trimester, the woman must continue to consume iron-rich foods to boost what she has and for the baby to develop well.”
The World Health Organization reports alarming rates of anaemia among pregnant women in developing nations, including Nigeria. A staggering 60% are affected, with 7% experiencing severe anaemia, highlighting a critical health concern in these regions.
