What is albumin and what is its role in the body?

Albumin protein is produced by the liver and by being released into the bloodstream, it plays several important roles in the body. The level and amount of this protein in the body should be normal and balanced. Otherwise, our health is at risk. In this article, we will talk about this important protein and its role and function in the body, and we will also introduce food sources that include albumin.

What is albumin?

Albumin is a type of protein produced by the liver and released into the bloodstream to play several important roles in the body. Its most important role is to maintain fluid balance. You may be interested to know that this protein is the most abundant protein in plasma! Liver cells produce 10 to 15 grams of it daily, but if needed, they can produce three or four times more.

What is the role of albumin in the body?

This protein has an important function in the body: preventing the leakage of blood flow fluids to other tissues or maintaining the osmotic pressure of the blood. Albumin also carries hormones, fatty acids, vitamins, and medications you take throughout your body. So, if we want to name its functions and roles in the body in general, it works like this:

• Maintaining blood osmotic pressure: As a large protein, it creates osmotic pressure in the blood, which prevents fluid from leaking out of the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues. In simpler terms, it acts like a sponge and holds water inside the veins.
• Material transportation: As a carrier, this protein carries various substances such as hormones, vitamins, drugs, enzymes and ions and fatty acids in the blood and delivers them to different cells of the body.
• Adjusting blood pH: It helps maintain the acid and base balance in the blood and keeps the pH of the blood within the normal range.
• Tissue nutrition: It plays a role in the process of tissue repair and regeneration and acts as an energy source for cells.

What is the normal range of albumin?

The normal level of albumin in healthy adults is 3.5 to 5.5 grams per deciliter. If your blood albumin level is above or below this range, it probably indicates a disease.

What are the side effects of low albumin level?

Low levels, or “hypoalbuminemia,” happen when your body doesn’t make enough of this protein, or you lose too much albumin in your urine and stool. When your albumin levels are low, hormones and other important compounds can’t get to where they need to be in your body to do their jobs.

Depending on the cause of this condition, various complications may occur for a person with low albumin. If a child or teenager has such a problem, the transfer of growth hormones throughout the body is delayed and the golden time of height growth may be lost.

For people over 70 years old, one of the symptoms of hypoalbuminemia is weakness and fatigue, which can put people with this disease at risk of falling or physical injury. Lower blood pressure, weak immune system, kidney and liver dysfunction are other side effects of low albumin. Since the blood pressure and body fluid balance are disturbed, there is a possibility of heart problems. Sudden onset of hypoalbuminemia symptoms in most cases indicates an underlying disease. Among the most common complications of hypoalbuminemia are the following:

• body swelling
• ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)
• Pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid around the lungs)

What is albumin supplement and what is its function?

Albumin supplement is a protein product that can be administered intravenously to people whose blood albumin levels are very low. The function of this supplement (which is actually a drug) is by increasing the plasma volume or albumin level in the blood.

This supplement may also be used for other medical purposes; Such as replacing lost blood volume or hypoalbuminemia caused by surgery, dialysis, abdominal infections, liver failure, pancreatitis, etc.

Albumin protein is found in what foods?

A high-protein diet can greatly help prevent or manage some causes of hypoalbuminemia. You should always get enough protein, but if you have certain conditions such as kidney disease, the importance of a high-protein diet doubles.

Animal sources rich in protein

• meat: Like chicken, turkey, beef and lamb, duck
• fish: such as salmon, mackerel and tuna
• Dairy products: such as milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs

Plant sources rich in protein

• Types of beans: Such as red beans, pinto beans, white beans, black beans
• peas
• lentils
• Soy products: Like tofu
• Quinoa
• Nuts and seeds: such as almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and peanut butter

Note that you may consume enough protein, but your albumin level is still low. In this case, some underlying conditions may have disturbed the absorption and processing of albumin in the body. In this case, you should take medical action and start the treatment process.

final word

Albumin protein is an important protein that is produced by the liver and has various roles in the body. Its most important task is to maintain fluid balance. In this article, we introduced albumin and told about its role and function in the body; We also introduced food sources that include albumin.

Resources: medichecks – csl – clevelandclinic