Serum albumin (ALB)

Albumin is a protein in your blood plasma. The liver makes albumin. Albumin keeps fluid from leaking out of your bloodstream. It also helps vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and other substances circulate throughout your body.

Serum albumin (ALB), one of the most important proteins in human physiology, has the main functions of maintaining plasma oncotic pressure and plasma volume, transporting hormones, vitamins, oligominerals and drugs, and exerting a powerful antioxidant-anti-inflammatory role. Its prognostic value in liver and malabsorption syndromes is well known.

When is an albumin blood test needed?

An albumin blood test is a liver function test.

Symptoms of liver disease may include:

Bruises.

Dark urine.

Fatigue.

Jaundice (yellow skin or whites of the eyes).

Loss of appetite.

Stool changes, like pale-coloured stool.

Edema (swelling) in your belly or legs.

Unexplained weight loss.

Symptoms of kidney disease may include:

Appetite loss.

Fatigue or trouble concentrating.

Frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia).

Itchy or dry skin.

Muscle cramps or weakness.

Nausea and vomiting.

Swelling in your feet, ankles or face.

Trouble sleeping.

Urine changes, like bloody, foamy or dark urine.

What do albumin blood test results mean?

Normal albumin levels in an adult’s blood range from 3.5 to 5.5 grams per deciliter (g/dL).

Lower-than-normal albumin levels in your blood (hypoalbuminemia) may indicate:

Infection.

Inflammation due to sepsis, surgery or another condition.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Inflammation (incl. inflammatory bowel disease)

Crohn’s disease

Kidney disease.

Liver disease, including cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer or hepatitis A, B or C.

Poor nutrition.

Thyroid disease

Celiac disease

Malnutrition

Shock

Higher than normal albumin levels in your blood (hyperalbuminemia) may indicate:

Dehydration.

Severe diarrhea.

Key substances transported by albumin. NO: nitric oxide. Modified from “The antioxidant properties of serum albumin” [14]. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2008.04.057. Epub 2008 May 12. PMID: 18474236.

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