Albumin
Albumin is the most abundant protein in blood plasma, produced exclusively by the liver at a rate of 10-15g per day. It maintains oncotic pressure (preventing fluid from leaking out of blood vessels), transports hormones, fatty acids, drugs, and bilirubin, and serves as an antioxidant and buffer for blood pH.
Why it matters: Albumin is one of the best markers of overall nutritional status and liver synthetic function. Low albumin indicates either inadequate production (liver disease, malnutrition) or excessive loss (kidney disease, burns, enteropathy). It is a strong predictor of mortality in hospitalized patients and contributes to biological age (PhenoAge) calculation.
May increase with:
May decrease with:
What is Albumin?
Albumin is the most abundant protein in blood plasma, produced exclusively by the liver at a rate of 10-15g per day. It maintains oncotic pressure (preventing fluid from leaking out of blood vessels), transports hormones, fatty acids, drugs, and bilirubin, and serves as an antioxidant and buffer for blood pH.
What might a high or low Albumin mean?
Albumin is one of the best markers of overall nutritional status and liver synthetic function. Low albumin indicates either inadequate production (liver disease, malnutrition) or excessive loss (kidney disease, burns, enteropathy). It is a strong predictor of mortality in hospitalized patients and contributes to biological age (PhenoAge) calculation.
What is the typical reference range for Albumin?
The general-population reference range shown here is 35 – 52 g/L. Reference ranges describe the general population and are not a personal target — discuss your results with your physician.
What can affect Albumin?
It may be higher with: Dehydration (relative increase due to concentration), Anabolic steroids (modest). It may be lower with: Chronic liver disease (cirrhosis), Nephrotic syndrome (urinary protein loss), Malnutrition and protein deficiency, Chronic inflammation (albumin is a negative acute-phase reactant), Burns and trauma (capillary leak), Malabsorption, Heart failure, Pregnancy (hemodilution).