Biomarker Glossary
Albumin
Albumin is the most abundant protein in your blood, made by the liver. It maintains fluid balance, carries hormones and medications, and is a key marker of liver function, nutritional status and overall health.
Also known as: Serum Albumin
Albumin is most informative when read alongside related markers like Creatinine and ALT. A single number rarely tells the whole story. If your reading sits outside the typical range, share the full report with your GP or healthcare professional before drawing conclusions.
What is Albumin?
The liver produces around 12 grams of albumin per day. It keeps fluid inside blood vessels (preventing tissues swelling), transports hormones and drugs, and helps maintain blood pH.
Albumin has a long half life (about 20 days), so it reflects medium term liver function and nutritional status rather than day to day changes. It is a slow moving marker, useful for chronic monitoring.
Low albumin is common in chronic illness, malnutrition, liver disease and kidney disease (where it is lost in urine). High albumin is rarely significant and usually reflects dehydration.
Why test Albumin?
- To assess liver function alongside ALT, AST and bilirubin.
- To screen for malnutrition or chronic illness.
- To investigate fluid retention, swelling or unexplained weight loss.
- Alongside total protein and globulin in a full health screen.
- To monitor chronic kidney disease, liver disease or inflammatory conditions.
To assess liver function alongside ALT, AST and bilirubin.
Albumin normal range (UK)
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| 35 to 50 g/L | Normal (standard UK NHS range) |
| Below 35 g/L | Low. Suggests poor nutrition, chronic illness, liver disease or kidney loss |
| Above 50 g/L | High. Usually reflects dehydration or recent burns |
Albumin naturally declines with age. In older adults, levels in the lower normal range may be expected.
About these ranges. The ranges above are typical UK clinical lab ranges aligned to NHS and Royal College of Pathologists guidance. Your Chxhealth report will show the specific reference range used by our partner lab, Randox, for each marker. Lab ranges vary slightly between providers and assays. Always interpret your results in the context of the range printed on your own report.
What causes high Albumin?
- Dehydration (the most common cause)
- Recent severe burns or major injury
- High protein diet in some cases
- No common pathological cause of significantly raised albumin
What causes low Albumin?
- Liver disease (the liver cannot make enough albumin)
- Kidney disease (albumin lost in urine, nephrotic syndrome)
- Malnutrition or protein deficiency
- Chronic inflammation or infection
- Severe burns or trauma (albumin leaks from damaged vessels)
- Inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease
- Heart failure
- Severe illness or major surgery
- Pregnancy (normally lower)
Symptoms of high Albumin
- Usually reflects dehydration: thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, lightheadedness.
Symptoms of low Albumin
- Swelling of legs, ankles or abdomen (oedema)
- Fatigue and weakness
- Slow wound healing
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Symptoms of the underlying cause (liver, kidney or chronic illness)
How is Albumin tested?
Albumin is measured from a small blood sample. No fasting is required.
Usually tested as part of a liver function panel or general health screen.
Chxhealth samples are analysed by Randox, a UK laboratory accredited by UKAS. Results return in 3 to 5 working days.
How to support healthy Albumin levels
- Ensure adequate dietary protein: 1.0 to 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight per day for most adults, higher for athletes and older adults.
- Eat a balanced diet with sufficient calories. Albumin falls during weight loss if protein intake is inadequate.
- Treat underlying conditions: liver disease, kidney disease and chronic infections all need direct management.
- Address inflammation through diet (oily fish, vegetables, olive oil) and lifestyle (exercise, sleep).
- Stay well hydrated.
These are general lifestyle suggestions. Chxhealth is an information service. For personal medical advice, please speak to a healthcare professional.
Chxhealth panels that test Albumin
20 Chxhealth biomarker panels include Albumin. Each is analysed by Randox, a UK laboratory accredited by UKAS. Reports are delivered in 3 to 5 working days.
- Acute Med 1
- Advanced GP2
- Advanced GP3
- Basic Screen
- Fertility Panel
- Liver Health
- Long Covid
- Nutritional and Digestive Health
- Nutritional Health
- Sports Performance
- Testosterone Monitoring
- Tired All The Time
- View all 20 panels that include Albumin
Albumin FAQs
What does low albumin mean?
Low albumin can reflect poor nutrition, liver disease, kidney disease, or chronic inflammation. It is a non specific marker and always needs interpretation alongside other tests and symptoms.
Can low albumin cause swelling?
Yes. Albumin holds fluid inside blood vessels. When levels fall significantly, fluid leaks into surrounding tissues, causing swelling of legs, ankles or the abdomen.
Is albumin a good marker of protein intake?
It is a slow moving marker reflecting longer term protein status rather than recent meals. A single low albumin does not mean you ate too little yesterday, but persistently low albumin can suggest chronic underfeeding or absorption problems.
Why does albumin fall in chronic illness?
Chronic inflammation diverts the liver towards producing inflammatory proteins instead of albumin. This is called the acute phase response and explains why hospitalised or chronically ill patients often have low albumin.
Can I raise albumin through diet?
Yes, slowly. Adequate protein intake, treating underlying inflammation, and addressing absorption problems all support albumin recovery. Significant changes take weeks to months because of albumin's long half life.
Often tested with Albumin
The biomarkers below are commonly investigated alongside Albumin because they reveal connected aspects of the same physiological picture:
- Creatinine: Both reflect protein and renal status.
- ALT: Liver synthetic function uses albumin alongside liver enzymes.
- Haemoglobin: Anaemia and low albumin can coexist in chronic illness.
Choose the right test for your goal
If you are reading about Albumin because of a specific health goal, our buying guides walk you through which Chxhealth panels fit:
- Best blood test for liver health
- Best blood test for general wellness over 40
- View all blood test guides
Sources and further reading
This page is informed by guidance from the NHS, NICE, Royal College of Pathologists and other UK authoritative bodies. For deeper detail or to verify the information, see:
About this page. Last reviewed: 13 May 2026. Next scheduled review: May 2027. This page has not yet been independently reviewed by a clinician. It is written from authoritative UK medical guidance (NHS, NICE, Royal College of Pathologists, peer-reviewed sources) but has not undergone formal clinical sign off.
Important. Chxhealth is a UK information service. We do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. The reference ranges and information on this page are general educational content and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. For any concerns about your health or results, please speak to your GP or another healthcare professional.