My grandma died a few days ago. She was 85. She was incredibly weak for a long time. The good doctor who saw her and signed her death certificate wrote one of the major causes of death was Protein Calorie Malnutrition. I searched this on the net and found some pretty good stuff about this ailment which takes many weeks of supportive treatment. Something Vander Gaditano could have easily done, at the right price, with a high rate of success.
This protein calorie malnutrition is something I would like to study in depth. It appears many diseases are caused by malnutrition. It’s what you eat and what you absorb.
This sounds like what my grandma endured:
Marasmus is defined simply as chronic deprivation of energy needed to maintain body weight. Its extreme form is characterized by severe weight loss and cachexia.1 Marasmus is further characterized by subnormal body temperature, decreased pulse and metabolic rate, loss of skin turgor, constipation, and starvation diarrhea, consisting of frequent, small, mucus-containing stools
and
Treatment
Individuals treated for protein-energy malnutrition are at risk for refeeding syndrome, in which hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia may lead to disturbances in the cardiac, neurologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, hematologic, skeletal, and endocrine systems. Guidelines have been developed to help prevent these complications and to establish a transition to normalcy. Treatment consists of 2 phases: stabilization and rehabilitation.
The initial (stabilization) phase proceeds from days 1 through 7. It consists of treatment and prevention of hypoglycemia, hypothermia, dehydration, and infection; correction of electrolyte imbalance and micronutrient deficiencies; and a cautious feeding regimen.
A rehabilitation phase proceeds from weeks 2 through 6. It consists of achievement of catch-up growth; provision of sensory stimulation and emotional support; and preparation for follow-up after recovery.
These initial 2 steps are followed by protocols for the treatment of shock and anemia; management of associated conditions; and guidelines for individuals who fail to respond.
from: http://www.nutritionmd.org/health_care_providers/general_nutrition/protein_malnutrition.html