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Albumin Blood Test: Understanding Its Role in Nutrition, Liver, and Kidney Health

The Albumin Blood Test, included in the PlexusDx Nutrition Deficiency Blood Test, is a key tool for assessing your overall health, nutritional status, and organ function. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood, produced primarily by the liver. It plays multiple critical roles, including maintaining fluid balance, transporting essential molecules, and supporting antioxidant defenses. Measuring albumin levels can reveal important insights about liver health, kidney function, inflammation, and overall nutritional status.

What Is Albumin?

Albumin is a protein made by the liver that accounts for about 60% of total protein in human plasma. It serves as a versatile carrier molecule, binding to hormones, fatty acids, vitamins, and medications to help transport them throughout the body. Albumin also helps maintain oncotic pressure, the force that keeps fluid inside your blood vessels and prevents it from leaking into surrounding tissues. Beyond these roles, albumin acts as a free radical scavenger, protecting the body against oxidative stress.

Why Is the Albumin Blood Test Important?

Checking albumin levels provides valuable information about:

  • Liver health – Because albumin is synthesized in the liver, low levels can indicate impaired liver function or advanced liver disease.
  • Kidney health – The kidneys filter albumin from the blood. If they are damaged, albumin can be lost through the urine, leading to lower blood levels.
  • Nutritional status – Albumin levels may decline with poor protein intake, chronic illness, or malnutrition.
  • Inflammation and infection – Albumin decreases during systemic inflammation and severe infections as the body redirects protein synthesis toward immune defense.
  • Aging – Albumin levels tend to decline gradually with age, reflecting both natural changes and age-associated health risks.

Common Reasons to Test Albumin Levels

You may want to check your albumin levels if you are experiencing any of the following:

  • Persistent swelling in the legs, ankles, or around the eyes (edema)
  • Unexplained fatigue or weakness
  • Signs of malnutrition, including muscle wasting or weight loss
  • Concerns about liver health, such as jaundice or abdominal swelling
  • Kidney-related symptoms, such as foamy urine (a sign of protein loss)
  • Chronic illness or inflammation that may affect protein metabolism

Even if you feel healthy, measuring albumin as part of a nutrition deficiency panel provides a baseline assessment of your overall health and may detect silent imbalances early.

Albumin Blood Test Reference Ranges

Albumin levels are measured in grams per deciliter (g/dL) of blood. The following are commonly used ranges:

  • Standard reference range: 3.5 – 5.0 g/dL
  • Functional/optimal range: 4.0 – 4.7 g/dL (slightly narrower, representing optimal wellness rather than just absence of disease)

Levels below the normal range (< 3.5 g/dL) may indicate malnutrition, liver disease, kidney disease, or inflammation. Very low levels (< 2.5 g/dL) are associated with more serious conditions such as cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, or critical illness. On the other hand, elevated albumin levels are rare and usually caused by dehydration, where a lack of fluid increases the concentration of albumin in the blood.

Interpreting Low Albumin Levels

A low albumin result is called hypoalbuminemia. Possible causes include:

  • Liver disease: Hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure reduces albumin production.
  • Kidney disease: Conditions such as nephrotic syndrome allow albumin to leak into urine.
  • Inflammation or infection: Acute or chronic inflammation lowers albumin as part of the “negative acute-phase response.”
  • Malnutrition: Inadequate protein intake reduces the body’s ability to maintain normal albumin levels.
  • Digestive conditions: Inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or chronic diarrhea can impair protein absorption.

Because albumin reflects multiple aspects of health, doctors often use it as a general indicator of wellness, disease progression, or treatment response.

How Albumin Relates to Overall Nutrition

Albumin is a marker of protein status in the body, making it an indirect measure of overall nutrition. Individuals on restrictive diets, those with chronic illness, or people experiencing age-related appetite decline may see their albumin levels fall. By identifying these changes early, you can take steps to improve your diet with adequate protein and essential nutrients, reducing risks of frailty, immune dysfunction, and poor wound healing.

At-Home Albumin Testing with PlexusDx

One of the benefits of the PlexusDx Nutrition Deficiency Blood Test is its convenience. Instead of visiting a lab, you can collect your sample at home using a simple dried blood spot on an ADX collection card. This method is:

  • Easy – Just a finger-prick sample is required.
  • Accurate – Dried blood spot technology provides reliable biomarker analysis.
  • Convenient – No lab visits or long waiting times for appointments.
  • Fast – Results are typically available quickly, giving you actionable insights without delay.

How to Improve Albumin Levels Naturally

If your albumin levels are low, steps you can take include:

  • Eating adequate high-quality protein sources, such as lean meats, fish, eggs, beans, and legumes.
  • Supporting liver health by avoiding excess alcohol and maintaining a nutrient-rich diet.
  • Staying hydrated to keep blood proteins in balance.
  • Managing inflammation with anti-inflammatory foods and lifestyle practices.
  • Working with your healthcare provider to address any underlying medical conditions.

Who Should Consider the Albumin Blood Test?

The test is useful for individuals who:

  • Want to assess their nutritional and protein status
  • Are managing a chronic health condition such as liver or kidney disease
  • Have unexplained swelling, fatigue, or digestive issues
  • Are older adults concerned about age-related decline in nutrition and protein levels
  • Are optimizing their health and longevity through preventive testing

Take Control of Your Health with PlexusDx

The Albumin Blood Test, included in the PlexusDx Nutrition Deficiency Blood Test, offers more than just a number. It provides a window into your overall health, highlighting potential issues before they become serious. By combining albumin testing with other nutritional biomarkers, you gain a comprehensive picture of your body’s balance and function. With simple at-home collection, fast results, and the ability to share findings with your healthcare provider, PlexusDx makes it easy to take proactive steps toward better health.

Empower yourself with knowledge. Order the PlexusDx Nutrition Deficiency Blood Test today and gain valuable insights into your nutritional status, liver and kidney function, and long-term wellness.