All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Blood albumin
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Albumin in the blood is a very important protein component of human blood. The name comes from the Latin word - white (albus). It is a protein that dissolves well in salty and acidic environments, and the protein is practically pure, since it does not contain a milligram of carbohydrates.
One of the most basic, numerous, albumin is present not only in the human body, but also in the proteins of chicken eggs, in some plants, its plant and animal form is called albuminoid. In humans, albumin is produced in large quantities by the liver. Albumin in the blood is the carrier of all twenty vital amino acids.
Albumin in the blood performs an important task - it is responsible for the transport of fatty acids, so necessary for the body, bile microelements, pigments - bilirubin. In addition, despite its small size, albumin copes with the transfer of vitamins and medicinal components - antibiotics, hormones, and sometimes some toxic substances. In medicine, it is jokingly called - a taxi molecule. Such functions are due to the excellent binding properties of albumins, and this "vehicle" is not picky about the choice of passengers. The huge list of substances that the albumin molecule is capable of binding is truly impressive. This protein also regulates plasma, osmotic pressure and, if a person begins to starve for some reason, the plasma protein is the first to be consumed, and the osmotic blood pressure drops.
In dry form, human blood contains up to 65% of this important element. In fact, the amount of albumin in a person's blood is the health of his body. Albumin in the blood is also called serum albumin, since it is contained there. Also, protein albumin molecules are found in other environments of the body, for example, albumin is present in the cerebrospinal fluid.
[ Blood albumin norm
The amount of protein depends primarily on age. One liter of blood in babies should contain at least 55 g of albumin. Older people cannot boast of such protein-rich blood - their normal level is up to 45 g. The norm for a middle-aged person is from thirty to fifty grams per liter of blood. The concentration of serum protein is determined by a special analysis, with the help of which protein metabolism in blood plasma is assessed. Such a study is necessary to clarify the diagnosis of many diseases, especially for kidney and liver pathologies, in which albumin is actually "born". Albumin is assessed by blood serum, but urine, cerebrospinal fluid material and other biological material where albumin may be present can also be studied.
Albumin is one of the main "building" materials, especially important for a growing child's body. Protein starvation leads to the fact that the young body does not receive the amino acids it needs, because albumin in the blood is consumed more intensively than usual with normal healthy nutrition. In short, albumin in the blood is not just a large amount of active proteins, but a biologically significant element, perhaps the most important in the blood.