home Analyzes How to increase protein in the blood using folk and medical means, the reasons for the decrease in levels. What can elevated protein in the blood tell you?

How to increase protein in the blood using folk and medical means, the reasons for the decrease in levels. What can elevated protein in the blood tell you?

Measuring the content of total (without dividing into fractions) protein is a mandatory component of a biochemical blood test. Conducting such a study is necessary for diseases of the liver, kidneys, exhaustion, oncological pathology, burn disease, autoimmune diseases, as well as infectious and inflammatory processes. Deviation of the total protein indicator from the norm due to pathological and physiological reasons is possible both upward and downward; in this article we will look in particular at why protein is elevated.

What is total protein?

By the term “total blood protein (total protein),” doctors mean the totality of all protein substances contained in plasma. There are a lot of them, and they perform a wide variety of functions:

Participate in blood clotting.
They maintain plasma oncotic pressure, which is extremely important for the formation of urine and tissue fluid. A decrease in protein concentration leads to a decrease in this pressure and the development of edema.
Maintains blood pH at the proper level.
Transfer substances from one organ to another. As an example, transport of cholesterol, bilirubin, hormones.
Participate in immune processes (antibodies that protect the human body from infections are immunoglobulins, that is, proteins).
They create a “protein reserve”. If there is insufficient intake of protein substances from food, blood proteins break down into amino acids, which are necessary for the formation of cells of the heart muscle, brain and other extremely important organs.
Regulated by many physiological processes occurring in the body. Most enzymes, hormones and other biological active substances have a protein structure.

Protein synthesis mainly occurs in the liver and immune system. Therefore any pathological processes in these organs are reflected in protein metabolism. The total amount of protein in the blood depends on the balance of the processes of formation and breakdown of two main protein fractions - albumins and globulins.

Normal level of total protein in blood

The concentration of proteins in the blood, considered normal, is not the same for all ages. For example:

for newborns – this is 45 – 70 g/l;
for an infant up to one year - 50 - 75 g/l;
for a child over 3 years old – 60 – 81 g/l;
for an adult – 66 – 87 g/l;
for an elderly person – 62 – 82 g/l.

These are only approximate figures; each laboratory indicates its reference values in the analysis form (they can be expressed in other units of measurement, for example, in g/dL), and you must rely on them when evaluating the result.

Total protein is elevated: what does this mean?

The reasons for the increase in the amount of proteins in the blood may be purely physiological in nature:

Active physical labor promotes a temporary increase in the concentration of protein substances.
A sudden change in body position (for example, if a person was lying down and suddenly stood up) is also accompanied by an increase in total protein.

These physiological factors can increase total protein levels by up to 10%. Moreover, if medical worker there was a delay during blood sampling for analysis, and the patient had a tourniquet on the arm for a long time, the level of protein in the blood may also jump. However, most often, increased protein in the blood indicates that a pathological process is developing in the body:

Severe dehydration. It occurs with prolonged and profuse diarrhea (for example, with cholera), severe injuries and burns, repeated vomiting with intestinal obstruction and other conditions accompanied by fluid loss.
Infection. Both acute and chronic infectious diseases cause an active immune response of the body and, accordingly, the formation of antibodies.
Paraproteinemia is the appearance in the blood of abnormal proteins that are synthesized by the body during cancer (myeloma, malignant macroglobulinemia, etc.).
Autoimmune pathology. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, rheumatism and others systemic diseases accompanied by hyperproduction of autoantibodies and specific proteins (C-reactive protein, ASL-O, haptoglobin, sialic acids, seromucoid, fibrinogen, etc.).
Granulomatous disease (eg, sarcoidosis).
Gammopathy. Gammapathies are a group of diseases in which abnormal gamma globulins are formed.
Hyperglobulinemia (quite often develops with liver pathologies).

In addition, some medications (mainly hormonal) can also increase protein levels:

Androgens.
Corticosteroids.
Insulin.
Progesterone.
Thyroid hormone preparations, etc.

Everything listed above is only a hypothetical cause of high protein in the blood. It is impossible to make a diagnosis based on one such analysis. To diagnose a disease, a doctor requires information from many sources: survey data and general examination, results of other studies, etc. Therefore, the detection of increased protein as a result of a biochemical blood test is only a reason for consulting a doctor and a more detailed examination.

Everything in our body should be in complete harmony. Then the person feels good, and illnesses bypass him. If any disturbance occurs, we feel it and wonder what is wrong. The easiest way to detect early stage failures - pass, it can tell a lot about the state of the body.

Human blood has a very complex composition and performs various functions. It contains a variety of substances, including. There are two types of protein compounds in the blood: globulins.

Globulins perform the function of immune reactions. That is, they participate in those processes that are associated with reactions immune system to external stimuli.

Albumins perform much more tasks: they are responsible for the composition of the blood, its fluidity and viscosity, maintain alkaline and acid balance, and also regulate its circulation.

Albumins are called fractional proteins and carry other substances in the blood.

Without proteins, blood would not be the very liquid that is decisive in our body. This is why it is so important to get tested on time and monitor your blood composition.

Here are a few more functions that protein performs in the blood:

separates all blood components and maintains them in a suspended state
prevents the formation of clots
controls
regulates pH balance in the blood
transports essential microelements, including lipids, minerals, other biological compounds entering tissues and organs
controls the volume of blood in the vessels

As you can see, proteins carry out very important tasks, which are necessary for normal functioning person and well-being.

Preparation and analysis procedure

In order to get tested, you need to come to any clinic. Usually prescribed for a general examination and any pathologies, since this analysis allows you to determine if there are any deviations. The doctor may collect data on the content of certain substances or the overall qualitative composition of the blood.

Taking tests is not very pleasant, but before that you need to relax and not worry. Currently, all instruments provide maximum comfort, so even small children can easily tolerate the procedure.

Explanation: normal blood protein levels by age

Total protein is the total concentration albumin and globulin– protein molecules that make up blood serum.

It is responsible for its coagulability, the level of immunity, and the transfer of oxygen through the vessels. This type of protein can be used to judge the body’s ability to self-regulate. It gives the blood the necessary thickness and buoyancy, creating the desired consistency. Elevated levels are a sign of pathology.

When the total protein content is higher accepted norm, this sometimes indicates problems with the thyroid gland, infections of acute or chronic. If the body lacks fluid, this also leads to increased performance. Dehydration occurs with vomiting, diarrhea, hot weather, or after intense physical activity. Therefore, it is important to immediately replenish water reserves so as not to weaken the systems and organs.

IN in rare cases high concentration total protein signals the presence malignant tumor. It happens that the consumption of certain foods leads to protein imbalance. medicines. This is especially true for medications based on hormonal or steroid components.

WITH medical point vision increased content of protein molecules in the blood called hyperproteinemia. Similar phenomenon is not observed during the healthy course of physiological processes.

It is revealed only with the development of deviations and diseases. Elevated protein levels are also considered a golden indicator, allowing timely diagnosis of inflammatory processes. Also, based on the test results, one can judge the likelihood of the spread of heart or vascular diseases, predict their course, and identify possible complications.

Reasons for increased protein levels

With increased levels, plasma protein increases on its own or entails blood thickening with changes in the amount of circulating vascular contents. The reasons for this are varied:

Cancer development. At the same time, the metabolic process is disrupted and protein is actively produced.
A severe infection, which is accompanied by the formation of lesions with pus and blood poisoning.
Pathologies of the immune system that contribute to the manifestation of aggression towards one’s own cells and tissues that are actually healthy.
Inflammation chronic, causing systematic decomposition of cells in organs.
Acute intestinal pathology, which is accompanied by frequent discharge of liquid feces. A similar thing happens with dysentery and cholera.
Severe poisoning, in which diarrhea and repeated vomiting are observed, causing a large loss of water from the body.
Intestinal obstruction, which leads to difficulty absorbing fluid from the digestive system.
Heavy bleeding.
Exceeding the dose when taking medicines, vitamins.
Disorder fat metabolism, development of vascular atherosclerosis.
An allergic reaction that threatens to become acute or slow developing inflammation vessels.
Diseases of a bacterial nature. Protein levels increase with meningitis and tuberculosis.
Deformation and destruction of tissues caused by necrosis. This happens with a heart attack, injury, burns, frostbite different degrees, after surgery.
Problems with operation endocrine system that provoke development diabetes mellitus, obesity, hormonal imbalance.

Only a doctor can find out the real reason for exceeding the norm based on symptoms and the general picture of the disease. It is not recommended to diagnose yourself; it is better to find time to visit a specialist in order to be able to take care of your health.

If elevated levels are detected in a child?

In order to confidently determine the cause, it is necessary to undergo an examination. The only thing you shouldn't do is panic. note on general condition child - is there lethargy, fever. When not alarming symptoms, the baby continues to lead an active lifestyle, there is no point in worrying in advance.

In some cases, exceeding the norm is explained simply by the error of the results. Children by nature are very mobile, and the reliability of test results depends on many factors. Before starting the procedure, you should not run or jump a lot - increased physical activity may distort protein readings. After it’s finished, you shouldn’t jump up sharply either, you need a little lie down or sit quietly.

If you do not adhere to these rules, you may receive information that is not entirely true. In such cases, a repeat blood test is prescribed.

Dehydration

When a child loses a lot of fluid, the blood becomes more viscous and the production of protein molecules begins. This happens with blood loss and intestinal pathologies. Sometimes the reason may be intoxication of the body due to poisoning with low-quality products, overheating in the sun, or toxic fumes from paints and varnishes entering the lungs. Poisoning is usually accompanied by upset stool and profuse vomiting.

Reason for violation water balance may be the most common - consist in intense physical activity. Children move a lot - run, jump, play outdoor games. If a child also plays sports or dances, his body doubles the need to replenish fluid loss.

Pathological processes

There are not the most harmless reasons increasing the level of total protein in children. When we're talking about about illness - this is a sure signal of the development of the inflammatory process.

Deviation from the norm may indicate allergic reaction, spread of infection in the body. In this case, they may be affected circulatory system or respiratory. Injuries or burns also lead to increased concentrations of protein in the blood.

Protein in the blood during pregnancy

Hyperproteinemia can also be observed in pregnant women. Total protein and its concentration are considered one of the important indicators of health. It is responsible for the metabolic process and maintaining immunity at the proper level, so a pregnant woman needs to take all tests on time to keep the situation under control.

Protein - the basis connective tissue , responsible for the strength of many elements of the body. When expectant mother the content of protein molecules is normal, the work of organs and systems proceeds smoothly.

Why are the indicators increased?

If the reasons are not related to pregnancy, then this can occur when water balance is disturbed, exacerbation of chronic diseases, development inflammatory processes. Sometimes this is due to intoxication of the body.

Many pathologies worsen during pregnancy, so before planning a pregnancy it is better to undergo a thorough examination, if possible improve your body health to avoid future health problems.

How does pregnancy affect protein levels?

Its indicators always cause increased interest among doctors monitoring the condition of a pregnant woman. In the expectant mother, the concentration of total protein sometimes increases. This indicates kidney disease or dehydration.

Exceeding the norm is especially common at the end of the term, when the child is about to be born. Then many pregnant women experience diarrhea, which leads to fluid loss and an increase in the level of protein molecules in the blood. For safety reasons, it is recommended to monitor all particularly important indicators based on test results throughout the period.

If the blood is under the influence pathological changes will become more viscous, this will prevent saturation of the amniotic fluid useful components. When the baby has a severe lack of nutrients, he may die.

If found high content in the blood of total protein, be sure to consult a doctor, then the development of pathology can be stopped at an earlier date and there will be less danger to health.

Protein in the blood is an important component of the body's protein volume. It determines the total concentration of albumin and globulins in the blood plasma. Timely analysis makes it possible to diagnose dangerous diseases. The indicator is measured in g/liter. The analysis is carried out in a clinical setting, subject to all international standards. Any deviations from the norm should not go unnoticed by doctors. Protein fractions and protein consist of complex amino acids that take part in vital processes in the body. They mainly serve to transport all kinds of nutrients.

An analysis of total protein in the blood helps determine the quality of work of many internal human organs. In particular, these are:

kidneys;
liver;
pancreas;
gastric bladder.

Thanks to this procedure, the patient learns information about the exchange of certain chemicals: proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. This allows you to timely identify many diseases and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Normal blood protein level

The normal level of protein in the blood for both men and women is determined by the number of elements that are tested for. They are:

total protein – from 64 to 84 grams per liter;
fibrinogen – from 2 to 4 grams per liter;
albumin - from 35 to 55 grams per liter;
globulins are determined only if necessary for each species separately.

Increased protein levels in the blood

A qualified doctor must identify various deviations from the norm during the procedure for determining the level of protein in a patient’s blood. If it is possible to establish that the presented general indicator elevated, this may indicate the development of a dangerous infectious disease.

Increased analysis rate. In normal situations, the violation is very difficult to detect. Basically, the problem is determined already at the stage of development of a certain pathology. There is a significant deviation from the norm. The patient experiences dehydration, vomiting, various burns and bowel dysfunction. This is characterized by an increased level of protein in the blood.

If at least one such manifestation appears, it means that you need to consult a doctor. An increased rate requires qualified treatment. An analysis for protein in the blood can identify the causes of these processes and diagnose correct diagnosis. The cause of this failure can be a number of diseases:

Treatment of these diseases normalizes protein levels and restores body function and metabolism. chemical elements. It is necessary to understand that increased rate harms the body. For help you only need to contact qualified specialist, having all permissions to provide medical services. If the patient strictly follows the doctor’s instructions, his total protein will be normalized.

Causes of low protein in the blood

A decrease in this indicator means the presence of certain processes in the patient’s body. These include anemia, chronic bleeding and kidney disease. The reason may also be a failure in metabolic processes.

The human body becomes more susceptible infectious diseases. Observed chronic fatigue, often lack of appetite and in some cases drowsiness. Reduced protein in the blood is accompanied by disruptions caused by HIV and other types of immunodeficiency.

The deficiency of the present substance is caused by physiological changes. For example, pregnant and lactating women experience a decrease in protein levels due to hormonal changes occurring in their body. A decrease in protein is quite often observed in children under 7 years of age.

A dangerous level of low protein in the body indicates the development of serious disorders. In this case, the general analysis will become normal only after the problem is eliminated. These include the following:

There are cases when such failures are caused by lack of power and neglect in a healthy way life. Experts recommend using only healthy food and get rid of bad habits.

Preparing for analysis

If you decide to do an analysis of total protein in the blood, then you should carefully prepare for it. There are several methods for carrying out such a procedure; the rules for taking tests for it are the same for both adults and children. They are that:

blood must be donated on an empty stomach;
before taking the test, at least 8 hours must pass after eating;
Blood is drawn before taking medications;
the day before the procedure, you should avoid eating fried and fatty foods, and also refrain from physical activity;
The procedure is not carried out after fluorography or x-rays.

Compliance with these rules will help determine the most accurate indicators and identify the patient’s current level of health.

Among builders of their own muscles, there is a widespread opinion - “the more protein, the better” and often such people, without making calculations, consume the maximum possible amount of protein products and supplements. What do scientists say about excessive amounts of protein in the body - can it be harmful?

Protein intake rate

To begin with, we should recall the official recommendations for protein consumption. For example, in the manual for sports nutrition NSCA for dry set muscle mass It is recommended to consume, in addition to a moderate excess of calories (10-15% above normal), 1.3-2 g/kg body weight per day.

And during the active phase of reducing the percentage of fat, scientists even recommend increasing the rate of protein consumption - up to 1.8-2 grams / kg of body weight per day. Moreover, the lower the percentage of fat (for example, when preparing for competitions), the higher the requirements for protein consumption. If the goal is to reduce the percentage of fat to very low values, it is recommended to increase protein intake to 2.3-3.1 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight per day.

Let's now find out what happens to our body when we consume large amounts of protein.

Excess protein and kidneys

Don't ask this question if you have healthy kidneys, and control your protein intake if they are diseased. The smartest approach is to gradually increase your protein intake to more than high level in the diet, and not “jump with both feet at the same time.”

Usually, With increased protein intake, it is recommended to drink more water. One of the reasons is to reduce the risk of kidney stones. However, there is no clear scientific rationale for why this should be done, but it may be a reasonable approach.

Observations of active male athletes and measurements of the levels of urea, creatinine and albumin in urine showed that in the range of protein intake from 1.28 to 2.8 g/kg body weight (that is, at the level of the recommendations described above), no no significant changes were observed (1). However, this experiment lasted only 7 days.

Another study (2) also found no association between protein intake and kidney health (in postmenopausal women).

A study involving nurses (3) confirms these findings. But it does suggest that the protein safety data does not apply to cases of kidney failure and other kidney diseases, and that non-dairy animal proteins may be more harmful to the body than other proteins.

It has been suggested that protein intake leads to functional changes in the kidneys (4). Protein may affect kidney function (5,6), therefore, when using it, there is a possibility of damage to them. The most pronounced results were obtained during experiments on mice (protein ranged from 10-15% to 35-45% daily ration at a time) (7.8).

Also in one study (9) involving healthy people It was found that doubling the amount of protein consumed (from 1.2 to 2.4 g/kg body weight) leads to exceeding the normal level of protein metabolism in the blood. A tendency towards adaptation of the body was noted - an increase in the glomerular filtration rate, but this was not enough to bring the indicators to normal uric acid and blood urea for 7 days (9).

All of these studies primarily suggest that too much protein leads to changes too quickly, and the process of gradually increasing volumes does not worsen renal function(10). This means that it makes more sense to gradually change your protein intake over a relatively long period of time.

People with kidney disease are advised to use protein-restricted diets, as this will slow down the seemingly inevitable deterioration of the condition (11,12). Failure to control protein intake in patients with kidney disease accelerates (or at least does not slow down) the decline in kidney function (3).

Excess protein and liver

There is no reason to believe that normal levels of protein intake as part of a normal diet would be harmful to the liver of healthy rats or humans. However, there is data from preliminary studies, according to which, very large quantities protein after a sufficiently long fast (more than 48 hours) can lead to acute liver injury.

During treatment liver diseases (cirrhosis) it is recommended to reduce protein intake, since it causes the accumulation of ammonia in the blood (13,14), which makes a negative contribution to the development hepatic encephalopathy (15).

It has been shown in at least one animal model that liver injury occurs during cycling between 5-day periods of sufficient protein intake and periods of protein deficiency (16). A similar effect was observed when consuming a meal containing 40-50% casein after a 48-hour fast.(17). Animal studies (18,19) have provided preliminary evidence that increased protein intake (35–50%) at the time of refeeding after a 48-hour fast may cause liver harm. Shorter periods of fasting were not considered.

Amino acids are acids, right?

We remind you that proteins are complex organic compounds consisting of smaller “building blocks” - amino acids. Actually, proteins consumed in food are broken down into amino acids.

Theoretically, it is possible to prove the harm of amino acids due to their excess acidity. But this is not a clinical problem: their acidity is too low to cause any trouble.

Read how our body regulates the acidity/alkalinity balance in the text ““.

Excess Protein and Bone Mineral Density

Analysis of a large observational study shows no link between protein intake and the risk of bone fractures (an indicator of bone health). The exception is when, with increased dietary protein, total calcium intake falls below 400 mg/1000 kcal daily (although the hazard ratio was quite weak at 1.51 when compared with the highest quartile) (26). Other studies have failed to find a similar correlation, although this would logically be expected (27,28).

Soy protein itself appears to have an additional protective effect on bone tissue in postmenopausal women, which may be due to the isoflavone content of soy (30).

The Role of Strength Training

As funny as it may seem, there is a study on this topic in rats. The rodents were acutely exposed to large amounts of protein in their diet, causing their kidney function to deteriorate.

But “weight training” (apparently, one of the groups of rats was “loaded” physically) reduced the negative effect and had a protective effect (8).

Research mentioned:

1. Poortmans JR, Dellalieux O Do regular high protein diets have potential health risks on kidney function in athletes. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. (2000)
2. Beasley JM, et al Higher biomarker-calibrated protein intake is not associated with impaired renal function in postmenopausal women. J Nutr. (2011)
3. Knight EL, et al The impact of protein intake on renal function decline in women with normal renal function or mild renal insufficiency. Ann Intern Med. (2003)
4. Brändle E, Sieberth HG, Hautmann RE Effect of chronic dietary protein intake on the renal function in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr. (1996)
5. King AJ, Levey AS Dietary protein and renal function. J Am Soc Nephrol. (1993)
6. Dietary protein intake and renal function
7. Wakefield AP, et al A diet with 35% of energy from protein leads to kidney damage in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Br J Nutr. (2011)
8. Aparicio VA, et al Effects of high-whey-protein intake and resistance training on renal, bone and metabolic parameters in rats. Br J Nutr. (2011)
9. Frank H, et al Effect of short-term high-protein compared with normal-protein diets on renal hemodynamics and associated variables in healthy young men. Am J Clin Nutr. (2009)
10. Wiegmann TB, et al Controlled changes in chronic dietary protein intake do not change glomerular filtration rate. Am J Kidney Dis. (1990)
11. Levey AS, et al Effects of dietary protein restriction on the progression of advanced renal disease in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study. Am J Kidney Dis. (1996)
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