Albumin
Albumin is tightly distributed in younger adults and drifts downward with age, reflecting the combined effects of inflammation, frailty, kidney loss, liver disease, and chronic illness in the general population.
Unit: g/dL · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Liver Function , Metabolic Panel · topics: Liver , Metabolic
Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and a standard component of the chemistry panel. It reflects hepatic synthetic function, protein status, plasma volume, inflammation, and renal or gastrointestinal protein loss. These percentiles describe the full US population rather than a screened healthy subgroup. Note: 1 g/dL is 10 g/L.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (g/dL) | female (g/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 3.9–4.8 (4.4) | 3.4–4.6 (4.1) |
| 30-39 | 3.8–4.8 (4.3) | 3.4–4.5 (4) |
| 40-49 | 3.7–4.6 (4.2) | 3.4–4.4 (4) |
| 50-59 | 3.6–4.6 (4.1) | 3.6–4.5 (4) |
| 60-69 | 3.6–4.5 (4) | 3.6–4.4 (4) |
| 70+ | 3.5–4.6 (4.1) | 3.4–4.4 (4) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does albumin fall with age?
Population albumin declines with age because inflammation, frailty, chronic disease, kidney loss, and reduced hepatic reserve become more common in older adults.
Why is albumin less variable than enzymes like ALT?
Albumin is a homeostatically regulated plasma protein, so most healthy and near-healthy adults cluster tightly around the median. The main shift is in older or chronically ill subgroups.
How do I convert g/dL to g/L?
Multiply by 10. For example, 4.2 g/dL is 42 g/L.