Table of contents:
- What is albumin?
- What if the levels are abnormal?
- Low albumin levels
- High albumin levels
- Albuminuria
Albumin is a protein in human blood that is produced by the liver and has an important function for your survival. When the levels are above or below normal, you may be experiencing certain health conditions. Therefore, it is important to get to know this protein in the blood more closely and understand its function.
What is albumin?
Albumin is the most abundant protein found in blood plasma, namely 3.4-5.4 grams per deciliter (34 to 54 grams per liter) of blood in healthy adults. This protein is formed in the liver and is transferred to the bloodstream.
Albumin serves to keep fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into other tissues. These proteins also carry various substances throughout your body, including hormones, vitamins, and enzymes.
Quoted from a journal published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, this protein can also transport a variety of drugs, including:
- Methadone
- Propranolol
- Thiopental
- Furosemide
- Warfarin
- Methotrexate
- Alfentanil
Albumin can be found in the bloodstream, interstitial spaces (gaps between cells), and other fluids. If this protein is found in other body fluids in large amounts, such as in the abdominal cavity or urine, it means that you have a certain disease.
The level of this important protein in the body can be detected by tests that are done in conjunction with other tests, such as a comprehensive metabolic panel or comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP).
What if the levels are abnormal?
Abnormal levels of this protein could indicate that you have certain health conditions. People with liver and kidney disease are most at risk of having abnormal albumin levels.
People whose digestive systems are not able to absorb nutrients properly and those who experience prolonged diarrhea are also at risk of developing this condition. Abnormal results indicate the need for further testing. The following is the full explanation.
Low albumin levels
Low levels of albumin in the blood indicate a condition known as hypoalbuminemia. This condition occurs because of decreased production or too much albumin is lost through the kidneys (urine), digestive tract (gastrointestinal), skin, or extravascular space.
The body that cannot meet nutritional needs can also make this protein in the blood low. The following are some of the conditions that cause albumin levels to decrease, namely:
- After undergoing weight loss surgery
- Crohn's disease (inflammation of the digestive tract)
- Low protein diet
- Celiac disease (damage to the lining of the small intestine from eating gluten)
- Whipple's disease (a condition that can prevent the intestines from providing nutrients to the rest of the body)
Low albumin may also indicate that you have the following conditions:
- Kidney illness
- Liver disease (for example hepatitis or cirrhosis which can cause ascites)
- Burns
Treatment for this condition depends on the underlying cause. If you have a critical illness, such as burns, you may be given additional albumin in the form of an IV.
High albumin levels
Not only low, high levels may also indicate certain health conditions. The following conditions can cause albumin levels to increase:
- Dehydration
- High protein diet
- Severe diarrhea
- Acute infection
- Burns
- Heart attack
- Using a tourniquet (a device to stop bleeding) for a long time
Albuminuria
Albuminuria, also known as proteinuria, is a sign of kidney disease, which means that your urine contains too much of this protein.
The kidneys filter the blood. Healthy kidneys should not allow albumin that is in the bloodstream to be excreted in the urine. However, kidney damage makes this possible. So, the less amount in your urine, the better.
If you have symptoms of kidney or liver disease, your doctor may recommend an albumin test.
The following are signs and symptoms of liver disease that may be the cause of abnormal albumin levels:
- Jaundice, characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Pale stool
Meanwhile, the following are signs and symptoms of kidney disease which is the cause of abnormal protein levels in the body:
- Swelling around the stomach, thighs, or face
- More frequent urination, especially at night
- Foamy, bloody, or coffee-colored urine
- Nausea
- Itchy skin
Albumin levels that are above or below normal levels do not necessarily indicate that you have a certain condition that requires treatment. Certain medications, such as steroids, insulin, and hormones, can also increase levels. Meanwhile, other drugs, such as birth control pills, can lower your albumin levels.
