Bilirubin
Total bilirubin is higher in males than females across adulthood and remains strongly right-skewed because a small subgroup has genetically or clinically elevated bilirubin levels.
Unit: mg/dL · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Liver Function , Metabolic Panel · topics: Liver , Metabolic
These pages use total bilirubin from the NHANES chemistry profile. Bilirubin reflects heme breakdown and hepatic uptake, conjugation, and excretion. The general-population distribution is right-skewed because mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, cholestatic disease, hemolysis, and other liver conditions produce a long upper tail. Note: 1 mg/dL is approximately 17.1 umol/L.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (mg/dL) | female (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 0.2–1.3 (0.4) | 0.1–1 (0.3) |
| 30-39 | 0.2–1.1 (0.5) | 0.1–0.8 (0.3) |
| 40-49 | 0.2–1 (0.4) | 0.1–0.8 (0.3) |
| 50-59 | 0.2–1.4 (0.5) | 0.2–0.8 (0.3) |
| 60-69 | 0.2–1.1 (0.5) | 0.2–0.8 (0.4) |
| 70+ | 0.2–1.1 (0.5) | 0.2–0.8 (0.4) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is bilirubin higher in males?
Males tend to have slightly higher bilirubin because of sex-related differences in bilirubin metabolism and a higher prevalence of mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the population.
Why is bilirubin right-skewed?
Most people cluster at low bilirubin concentrations, but a smaller subgroup has Gilbert syndrome, cholestasis, hemolysis, liver disease, or other causes of higher bilirubin. That creates a long upper tail.
How do I convert mg/dL to umol/L?
Multiply by 17.1. For example, 0.80 mg/dL is approximately 14 umol/L.