Albumin

What it is

Albumin is a type of protein found in your blood. It's the most abundant protein in the plasma, which is the liquid part of your blood. Think of it as a vital workhorse in your body. Albumin is produced by your liver, and it plays a crucial role in many bodily functions. It helps to keep fluid within your blood vessels, preventing it from leaking into other tissues. It also acts as a transport system, carrying various substances around your body, such as hormones, vitamins, and minerals.

Why it matters

Because your liver is responsible for making albumin, the level of albumin in your blood can give doctors valuable clues about how well your liver is working. If your liver isn't functioning optimally, it might not produce enough albumin, leading to lower levels in your blood.

Albumin also helps maintain the right balance of fluids in your body. It attracts water, helping to keep it within your blood vessels. If albumin levels are too low, fluid can leak out into surrounding tissues, potentially causing swelling (known as oedema), particularly in the legs, ankles, and feet.

Furthermore, albumin carries many important substances throughout your body. If your albumin levels are low, the transport of these substances might be affected, which could have wider implications for your health.

What can cause it to be high or low

Low Albumin Levels:

• Liver Problems: As your liver makes albumin, conditions that affect liver function, such as cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), can lead to reduced albumin production.
• Kidney Disease: Your kidneys act as filters for your blood. If they are damaged, they might allow albumin to leak out of your blood and into your urine. This is often detected by testing for protein in the urine.
• Malnutrition or Poor Diet: If your diet doesn't provide enough protein, your body may not have the building blocks it needs to produce sufficient albumin. This can be a concern for individuals with eating disorders or those who have difficulty absorbing nutrients from food.
• Inflammation or Infection: During periods of significant illness, inflammation, or infection, the body may divert resources away from producing albumin, or albumin might be lost from the body.
• Heart Failure: In some cases of heart failure, fluid can build up in the body, which can sometimes be associated with lower albumin levels.

High Albumin Levels:

High albumin levels are less common and usually indicate a different issue.

• Dehydration: If you are significantly dehydrated, the concentration of albumin in your blood can appear higher because there is less fluid overall.
• Certain Medical Conditions: In rare instances, certain medical conditions or medications might be associated with higher albumin levels.

The typical reference range for albumin in the UK is generally between 35 and 50 grams per litre (g/l).

Lifestyle factors that may help

Maintaining healthy albumin levels often involves supporting your overall health, particularly your liver and nutritional status.

• Balanced Diet: Ensuring your diet includes adequate protein is fundamental. Discussing with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian can help you understand your individual protein needs.
• Limiting Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can be damaging to the liver. Moderating or avoiding alcohol intake can support liver health.
• Healthy Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is beneficial for overall health, including liver function.
• Managing Chronic Conditions: If you have existing conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease, working closely with your healthcare team to manage these effectively is important.

Questions to discuss with your GP

If your albumin levels have been discussed with you, here are some questions you might consider asking your GP:

• What does my specific albumin result mean for my health?
• Could my albumin level be related to any other test results or my current symptoms?
• Are there any specific dietary changes or lifestyle adjustments you would recommend for me?
• Are there any further tests you think would be helpful to understand my albumin level?
• What are the potential long-term implications of my albumin level?
• How often should my albumin levels be monitored?