Final answer:
Excessive dietary protein is associated with a risk of osteoporosis, not kwashiorkor or marasmus, which are conditions resulting from protein deficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Excessive dietary protein can lead to several health issues, one of which is the potential development of osteoporosis. Some nutritionists suggest that osteoporosis may occur due to the pressure high protein intake puts on kidneys, causing bone loss as a result of calcium being leached from the bones. This happens because the increased calcium excretion in urine may not necessarily be balanced by a corresponding increase in protein-induced calcium absorption in the intestines.
Kwashiorkor and marasmus are conditions that result from protein deficiency, not excess. Kwashiorkor usually affects children who have been weaned onto a diet low in protein, resulting in symptoms like a swollen abdomen from oedema. Marasmus, on the other hand, is characterized by a general wasting away of body tissues due to severe malnutrition, including both protein and energy.