What is Albumin?
Albumin is an umbrella term for a type of protein which is water soluble. Numerous types of albumin can be found all over the natural world, and two of the most familiar examples of albumin can be found in egg whites and in human blood. Albumins are an important class of protein, and they are vitally important to health and well being for many organisms. Many plants and animals contain or secrete albumin. A protein classified as albumin is globular, meaning that it is soluble in water. Globular proteins also have a roughly spherical structure. When combined with water, albumin and other globular proteins form a colloid, a solution which appears homogeneous although it actually contains multiple substances. The other type of protein, fibrous protein, such as that found in muscles, is not water soluble, and it has a different basic structure. Within the human body, albumin is an important component of life. Albumin in the human body transports essential fatty acids from adipose tissue, o
Albumin is a protein manufactured by the liver. WHAT DOES ALBUMIN DO? Albumin performs many functions including maintaining the “osmotic pressure” that causes fluid to remain within the blood stream instead of leaking out into the tissues. WHAT CAUSES ALBUMIN TO BE TOO LOW? Liver disease, kidney disease, and malnutrition are the major causes of low albumin. A diseased liver produces insufficient albumin. Diseased kidneys sometimes lose large amounts of albumin into the urine faster than the liver can produce it (this is termed nephrotic syndrome). In malnutrition there is not enough protein in the patient’s diet for the liver to make new albumin from. WHAT IS THE NORMAL LEVEL OF ALBUMIN? The normal value depends on the laboratory running the test. Most labs consider roughly 3.5 to 5 grams per deciliter to be normal. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY ALBUMIN GETS TOO LOW? In a healthy person with normal nutrition, the liver will simply manufacture more and the level will normalize. If albumin gets ver
Albumin is the most common protein found in the blood. It provides the body with the protein needed to both maintain growth and repair tissues. During a dialysis treatment, the albumin in your blood also helps with fluid removal. It helps “pull” extra fluid from swollen tissues back into the blood, where it can then be removed by the dialyzer.
