Albumin is the most abundant transporter protein in the bloodstream, it is located in plasma and fulfills numerous functions in the human body; Albumin is synthesized in the liver region, this being its endogenous origin, however it can be acquired exogenously through the consumption of food, specifically eggs and milk. In the egg it is known as ovalbumin and it is located in the crystalline liquid known as "egg white"; This protein is mainly essential to regulate osmotic pressure at the level of blood tissue, this in order to regulate the distribution of fluids Throughout the human body, its normal concentration in the healthy individual is approximately 3 to 5 g / dL, constituting more than 50% of the circulating protein within the bloodstream.
The relationship of the levels of albumin in blood and urine is an indication of the functioning of glomerular filtration, albumin has a clearly negative chemical charge, this is a characteristic that it shares with the basement membrane of the glomerulus, this similarity of charges Electricity is what prevents albumin from being filtered through the urine, therefore if there is hypoalbuminemia (decrease in albumin in the blood), kidney failure should be suspected. To rule out this diagnosis, an analysis must be done on a sampleof 24-hour urine, if within this urine there are increased levels of albumin, it means that there is kidney failure and the blood is not filtering correctly, this is seen in kidney diseases such as: nephrotic syndrome; In the contrary case that normal values of albumin are found in urine and decreased blood levels, liver failure should be suspected.
Among the many functions of albumin in the body is: it works as a transport protein within the bloodstream for: thyroid hormones, bilirubin, lipid or steroid hormones (testosterone and estrogen), lipids (fatty acids) and some drugs; in turn, it participates in the regulation of calcium concentration and blood pH.
