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Total Protein

Total protein measures two types of proteins found in the blood; albumin and globulin. They are important biomarkers for liver, kidney, and immune health.

Written by Leanne Edermaniger

July 30, 2024

Reviewed by:

Dr Thom Phillips
In this article:

What is Total Protein?

Total protein measures the total amount of protein in the blood[1]. There are two main types of protein present in blood, albumin and globulin. A total protein test measures the total of these two proteins combined.

Albumin makes up more than 50% of total protein and is important for transporting hormones, bilirubin, and vitamins. It also plays a critical role in fat metabolism by binding to fatty acids and keeping them in a soluble form in the blood[2].

Globulins, on the other hand, are a protein group that is important for liver and immune health. There are three types of globulins; alpha, beta and gamma. Alpha and beta globulins transport substances around the body, while gamma globulins are important for fighting infections.

What are Normal Total Protein Levels?

The healthy range for total protein is:

  • 60 – 80 g/L for women
  • 63 – 78 g/L for men

Data collected from Forth customers shows that the average total protein levels in each sex and age group are within the normal range.

Average total protein levels of UK adults by age and sex 2024

How Much Protein Do We Need?

To be healthy, most adults need around 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight every day. On average, that’s approximately 45 g for a woman and 55 g for a man[3]. However, this can vary depending on your weight or training program.

For example, if you want to build muscle, you’ll likely need to increase your protein intake. Anyone looking to build their muscle mass and will be using their muscles more than the average person will need to consume 1.4 to 2g/kg of body weight each day. It’s also recommended that endurance athletes consume 1.2 to 2g/kg of body weight daily[4].

Protein is an important part of our diet, it is one of three macronutrients, nutrients the body requires in large amounts for energy, alongside carbohydrates and fats. Protein is an important building block of muscles, bones, skin, and blood, and is vital for nearly all of the physiological processes taking place in the body. Plus, when carbohydrates or fats are in short supply or unable to be metabolised, protein can serve as an energy source.

Benefits of Testing Total Protein

A total protein blood test is a good biomarker for liver and kidney health and malnutrition. It can tell you if your body is not digesting or absorbing protein properly or if you are dehydrated.

Therefore, testing your total protein levels could show that you need to change your diet or make healthier lifestyle choices to help support your kidney or liver health.

How to Test Total Protein

Your GP can conduct a total protein test but is usually requested alongside other blood tests, like a liver function test.

You can also test your total protein level as part of the following at-home test kits from Forth:

Causes and Symptoms of High Protein Levels

You shouldn’t worry about a higher-than-normal blood protein level because it isn’t always a sign of serious illness. If you have an abnormally high level, you should discuss your results with your doctor who can run additional tests to identify any underlying conditions.

Causes

There are several possible causes of high protein levels. They are:

  • Dehydration
  • Inflammation
  • Viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS
  • Certain types of cancer (multiple myeloma)[5]
  • Severe kidney or liver disease

Symptoms

You’re unlikely to experience any symptoms directly from high blood protein levels, but you may experience symptoms associated with the underlying cause.

If the underlying cause is dehydration, you may experience:

  • Thirst
  • Peeing less often than usual
  • Dark, strong-smelling pee
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Tiredness
  • Dry mouth, lips, tongue
  • Sunken eyes[6]

How to Lower Total Protein

If your total protein levels are raised because of an infection or dehydration, your levels should return to normal once it has cleared.

There are certain things you can do to help keep your total protein levels within a normal range, such as:

  • Staying hydrated: It’s important to take small, regular sips of fluid throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated and avoid dehydration. The NHS recommends drinking 6 to 8 glasses of fluid per day. These include water, tea, coffee, low-fat milk, and sugar-free drinks like squash. Certain circumstances may mean you need to increase the amount you drink, such as pregnancy, exercise, or hot weather.
  • Participating in exercise: Taking part in moderate exercise has been shown to lower total protein levels in the blood[7]. Examples of moderate exercise include riding a bike, brisk walking, dancing, and water aerobics[8].

Causes and Symptoms of Low Protein Levels

Total protein levels can be decreased for many reasons and if you are worried about your total protein level, you should discuss your results with a doctor. Low total protein levels can indicate underlying health conditions and the symptoms and treatments will vary depending on the cause.

Causes

Some of the causes of low total protein are:

  • Kidney disease: Nephrotic syndrome causes inflamed glomeruli in the kidneys, allowing protein to leak into your urine, resulting in low blood levels.
  • Liver disease: Liver disease can cause the liver to lose the ability to properly produce or metabolise proteins, resulting in low blood total protein.
  • Protein malabsorption: If the body struggles to absorb protein it can directly affect blood levels. Conditions such as Coeliac disease can cause low total protein.
  • Malnutrition: A lack of protein intake in the diet can reduce the body’s capacity to produce proteins such as albumin and globulin, resulting in low total protein.
  • Medicines: Certain medications can lower total protein levels in the blood, including hormonal contraception or replacement therapy.
  • Autoimmune conditions: Conditions like Coeliac disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the body’s immune system attacks its cells can cause low total protein.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms associated with low total protein are:

  • Swelling
  • Hair loss
  • Delayed wound healing
  • Brittle nails
  • Scaly skin
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling sick
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Low energy
  • Bruising easily

How to Raise Total Protein

If you’re concerned your total protein levels are low or want to increase them, there are things you can do to help keep them within a healthy range, including:

  • Reduce your alcohol intake: If you regularly drink lots of alcohol, then this could increase your risk of liver or kidney disease[9]. Alcohol reduces the body’s ability to make proteins. Plus, it can decrease muscle mass or prevent muscle growth, so it’s important to try to limit your alcohol consumption to less than 14 units per week, spread out across a few days.
  • Increase your protein intake: You can support the body’s synthesis and metabolism of protein by increasing the amount of protein-rich foods in your diet. Good protein sources include red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, legumes, beans, nuts, and dairy products.
  • Participate in intense exercise: Some research shows that intense exercise can raise total protein levels. If you want to increase total protein levels, consider participating in high-intensity exercise training sessions as part of your usual training routine[7].

Written by Leanne Edermaniger

Based in the UK, Leanne specialises in writing about health, medicine, nutrition, and fitness.

She has over 5 years of experience in writing about health and lifestyle and has a BSc (hons) Biomedical Science and an MSc Science, Communication and Society.

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Article references

  1. Alshuwaier, G. et al. (2022) ‘Different training sessions impact on serum protein profile of Saudi Professional Soccer Players’, Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 25(8), p. 1287. doi:10.4103/njcp.njcp_72_22.

This information has been medically reviewed by Dr Thom Phillips

Thom works in NHS general practice and has a decade of experience working in both male and female elite sport. He has a background in exercise physiology and has published research into fatigue biomarkers.

Dr Thom Phillips

Dr Thom Phillips

Head of Clinical Services