Reasons for Low Protein Levels in Blood

Blood proteins are also called serum proteins and serve to transport materials through your blood and and regulate cellular activity. The two main types of blood protein are albumins and immunoglobulins.

Types of Blood Protein

• Albumin is the main type of blood protein and is created mainly in your liver. Albumin helps stop your blood from seeping out of blood vessels. It also helps transport substances through your blood and assists with tissue growth and healing. Globulin is the other main type of blood protein and is made up of different protein types. Many globulins are created in the liver, and others are created by your immune system. Some globulins transport materials like iron in your blood and help fight infection.

Causes

• Nephrotic symptom is often a major cause of low protein levels in the blood. It is caused by various disorders that damage the kidneys. Liver disorders may also be an underlying cause of low protein levels in the blood.

Side Effects

• When the total blood protein levels are low, edema can result. Low levels of blood protein often occur in people with heart failure, alcoholism, immobilization, malnutrition and pregnancy.

Reasons

• If a person's diet is lacking in protein or amino acids, his body may have trouble producing albumin and globulin, resulting in low blood protein. Additionally, severe burns, autoimmune disease, uncontrolled diabetes and hyperthyroidism may also be reasons someone has low protein levels in the blood.

High Blood Protein Levels

• According to a 1989 study published in Lancet that reviewed 7,735 middle-aged men over a nine-year period, men who had low blood protein levels developed diseases and had a much higher death rate than those with normal levels.