Albumin and pregnancy
There are many blood tests that you have to do during pregnancy, practically every month you will find yourself having to do new ones. Let's try to analyze one of the possible parameters, albumin and understand what happens if she is low or high in pregnancy.
Albumin is a protein found in human blood (to be more specific in plasma) and, as the name suggests, also in eggs and some types of meat. It is produced by the liver and has the important task of maintain and regulate the presence or release of fluids within the body, carry some hormones (for example those that regulate the functioning of the thyroid) and also some drugs that use this molecule to reach the target. You then understood the importance of an adequate albumin value.
Read also: Calendar of exams to do in pregnancyBut what does an abnormal albumin value mean in pregnancy?
Un slightly lower value in pregnancy it is absolutely physiological and you do not have to worry, a little less is produced in the liver and the increase in blood volume leads to a dilution and therefore to a lower concentration. Beware though that values that are too low can be a symptom of a malfunction of the liver, of a problem of hyperactivity of the thyroid gland or even simply a diet that is too drastic and with little liquid.
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Conversely, the presence of a very high value of albumin especially in the urine exposes you to important risks. In pregnancy, for example, it is one of the markers that, present in the urine, help us diagnose gestosis (or preeclampsia), a disease that involves hospitalization. Being so important for the regulation of fluids in the body, an indicator of the presence of large amounts of albumin in the blood and urine is very pronounced swelling (beyond the normal swelling of late pregnancy) especially in the limbs, and a value of high blood pressure.
How can we try to keep albumin values within the normal range by avoiding taking drugs?
Pharmacological therapy is generally reserved for people with significant imbalances in albumin values which go against very serious risks. For those who instead notice slight alterations in one sense or another of the albumin values we can try to correct them with a change in dietary regimen. Let's start with those who have low albumin values, in the diet it is good to include animal proteins, especially eggs and meat. Obviously trying to maintain a balanced diet by favoring white meats (chicken, turkey in absolute but also rabbit and other white meats) and hard-boiled eggs (cooked eggs allow you to avoid problems of infections deriving from bacteria present in raw eggs).
Foods containing vegetable proteins are however recommended even if the albumin content is negligible. Maintaining good hydration is therefore essential, therefore, the green light to water and other liquids. On the other hand, those who have a high albumin should favor plant-based proteins such as legumes and soy because they do not contain albumin or in any case it is not in relevant doses. Hydration in this case is always important but in a limited way to avoid excessive edema (swelling) and pressure changes due to the overload of fluids in the body. Staying within 1,5-2 liters of water per day is still safe. Small tricks are enough for a peaceful pregnancy even from the point of view of a small molecule that acts in our body and of which we often ignore the existence and importance.
