Low Plasma Proteins

Image of a protein molecule.

What Are Low Plasma Proteins?

Low plasma proteins found in blood indicates an abnormal blood level.

Plasma proteins are any of the proteins that constitute about 6% to 7% of the blood plasma in the body. They include albumin, fibrinogen, prothrombin, and the gamma globulins. All plasma proteins except the gamma globulins are produced in the liver.1

Q: Which protein is most abundant in blood?

A: Of the dozens of plasma proteins, albumin makes up more than half. Albumin level is the most frequently tested in the presence of weight loss and other signs of poor nutrition. Albumin helps maintain water balance that affects osmotic pressure, increase blood viscosity, and helps maintain blood pressure.1

Other commonly tested blood proteins are globulins which make up about a third of plasma proteins. Lab reports show the ratio between albumin and globulin, as well as, their individual values. Fibrinogen, essential for clot formation, makes 7% of plasma proteins while regulatory proteins, which include enzymes and hormones, make up 1%.

What Are Low Plasma Proteins In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

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1. Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier. [↩] [↩]