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People on an elimination diet, such as vegetarian or vegan, must check that they are providing their body with everything it needs. Prophylactic examinations should include, inter alia, testing the concentration of albumin, i.e. blood plasma proteins important in the human body. When else is it worth doing such research?
- Albumin accounts for more than half of the proteins in the blood plasma, so it is worth monitoring their concentration
- It is worth testing the concentration of albumin when we are on a vegetarian diet
- Among the indications for the examination, it is also worth mentioning eating disorders as well as kidney and liver disorders
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
What are albumin and what functions do they perform in the body?
Albumin is a protein that carries hormones, amino acids, fatty acids, sodium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and drugs. By taking care of the proper concentration of albumin, you can prevent edema, because the proper level of proteins makes it difficult for the fluid to penetrate from the vessels to the tissues. It is worth noting that albumin accounts for over 50 percent. blood plasma proteins. It is no wonder then that these proteins play an important role in the body.
Primarily, they maintain oncotic pressure in the blood vessels, which helps regulate the amount of water in the vessels. As they are amphiprotic, they are capable of binding both with acids and with bases. At the same time, they protect the blood against a change in the pH too acidic or alkaline. This is possible due to the buffering role of albumin, which also helps to maintain a constant pH in the blood.
Additionally, albumin has the following properties:
- they ensure stabilization of the vascular endothelium and reduce vascular permeability;
- perform an antioxidant function, reducing free radicals and preventing damage associated with oxidative stress.
Further part below the video.
When should the level of albumin in the body be tested?
The immediate reason to receive a referral for an albumin level test is the feeling of specific ailments related to abnormalities in the work of the liver or kidneys. The tested albumin concentrations are performed in the diagnosis of diseases of the above organs, and additionally in the diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
It is also worth performing diagnostic tests for the liver – the tests are available on the uPatient platform, as well as the package for people who want to check the functioning of the kidneys.
Patients after bariatric surgery should also undergo preventive examinations. Diagnostics will also be needed for people on an elimination diet, such as vegetarian, vegan, low-protein or high-protein diets. Additional indications for the examination are:
- severe general condition, exhaustion of the body,
- dehydration, malnutrition, eating disorders
- suspicion of nephrotic syndrome,
- the occurrence of edema.
If you are on a vegetarian or vegan diet and want to check your albumin (and more), try the Vegan and Vegetarian E-packet – patient blood test. By the way, you can also test your immunity.
How to prepare for the albumin test?
To test the level of albumin in the body, a sample of biological material in the form of venous blood is needed. It is not necessary to prepare particularly for the examination. It is worth consulting a doctor beforehand, as some medications may affect the concentration of albumin. A specialist may advise you to discontinue them before the test is performed. Before taking, you should inform your doctor about the list of medications you are taking, especially insulin, growth hormones, as well as androgens and anabolic steroids.
The analysis of the results should be based on the reference values provided by the laboratory as each facility may have different values. The most commonly accepted values considered to be correct are 35-50 g / l.