Personal
Professional
Research
Personal Professional Research Sign Up Login Pro Login
Research Total Protein, Urine
Urinalysis

Total Protein, Urine

Optimal Result: 0 - 20 mg/dL.

Total Protein, Urine Test: Understanding Kidney Health and Protein Levels

The Total Protein, Urine test measures the amount of protein in the urine and is an essential diagnostic tool for assessing kidney health. Healthy kidneys filter waste from the blood, keeping necessary proteins in the bloodstream and removing excess waste in the urine. However, when kidney function is compromised, proteins such as albumin can leak into the urine, indicating potential kidney damage.

What Are Normal Levels for Total Protein in Urine?

  • Random urine sample: Normal protein levels are typically between 0 to 20 mg/dL.
  • 24-hour urine collection: The normal value should be less than 80 mg of protein per 24 hours.

What Are Plasma Proteins?

Plasma proteins are crucial for bodily functions like immune defense, blood clotting, and maintaining fluid balance. These proteins include albumin (making up 50%-60% of blood proteins) and globulins (which include immunoglobulins). The kidneys play a vital role in filtering these proteins and reabsorbing them back into the bloodstream.

Why Does Protein Appear in Urine?

When kidneys are damaged or weakened due to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or glomerulonephritis [inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys (glomeruli)], their ability to filter properly decreases. As a result, albumin and other proteins spill into the urine. Routine tests, such as urine dipstick tests, can detect the presence of albumin in the urine, which serves as an early warning sign of kidney issues.

What Happens if Kidney Function Declines?

As kidney damage progresses, the kidneys' filtering capabilities are impaired, leading to higher levels of protein in the urine. The presence of protein in urine (proteinuria) is often one of the first detectable signs of kidney problems. Early detection of elevated protein levels allows for prompt medical intervention, potentially preventing further kidney damage and complications such as kidney failure.

Importance of Monitoring Total Protein in Urine

Monitoring Total Protein in urine is critical for early diagnosis of kidney disease. If protein levels in urine are consistently high, it can be a sign of kidney conditions such as chronic kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, or diabetic nephropathy. Detecting these issues early can help manage and prevent further kidney damage, improving overall health outcomes.

 

What does it mean if your Total Protein, Urine result is too high?

Elevated Total Protein in Urine: What Does It Mean for Your Health?

Elevated levels of Total Protein in urine (proteinuria) can indicate an underlying health issue, often related to kidney dysfunction. When kidneys are working properly, they filter waste from the blood but retain essential proteins. However, when kidney function is compromised, protein may leak into the urine. Understanding what elevated protein levels mean and how they relate to specific conditions is essential for early diagnosis and effective treatment.

What Causes Elevated Protein in Urine?

Elevated protein levels in urine may be a sign of several health conditions, including:

  1. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): One of the most common causes of proteinuria. In CKD, kidney function deteriorates over time, leading to the leakage of proteins like albumin into the urine.
  2. Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli), which can result in protein spilling into the urine.
  3. Diabetic Nephropathy: Kidney damage caused by diabetes. High blood sugar can damage kidney blood vessels, leading to protein leakage.
  4. Hypertension: High blood pressure can damage the kidneys over time, causing protein to leak into the urine.
  5. Pre-eclampsia: A pregnancy-related condition characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs, including the kidneys.
  6. Infections: Kidney or urinary tract infections can lead to temporary proteinuria.
  7. Heart Disease: Heart conditions such as heart failure may affect kidney function and result in protein leakage.

Symptoms of Proteinuria

In many cases, elevated protein in urine may not cause noticeable symptoms, especially in the early stages. However, as kidney damage progresses, you may experience:

  • Swelling (edema): Fluid retention, especially in the legs, ankles, or face.
  • Foamy or bubbly urine: Protein in the urine can cause it to appear frothy.
  • Fatigue: Feeling tired or weak due to the kidneys' reduced ability to remove waste from the blood.
  • Weight gain: Caused by fluid retention.
  • High blood pressure: Kidney problems can lead to elevated blood pressure.

Diagnosis of Proteinuria

If your urine test shows elevated protein levels, further testing may be needed to determine the cause. The doctor may recommend:

  • Urine Dipstick Test: A quick screening test to check for protein in the urine.
  • 24-Hour Urine Collection: A more accurate test to measure the exact amount of protein in the urine over 24 hours.
  • Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (ACR): A test that compares the amount of albumin (a protein) to creatinine in the urine. It’s commonly used to assess kidney damage, especially in diabetic patients.
  • Blood Tests: To assess kidney function, including serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
  • Kidney Biopsy: In some cases, a biopsy may be performed to assess the extent of kidney damage or diagnose specific kidney conditions.

Treatment Options for Elevated Protein in Urine

The treatment for elevated protein in urine depends on the underlying cause. Options may include:

  1. Managing Underlying Conditions:

    • Diabetes: Tight control of blood sugar levels can help protect kidney function and reduce protein leakage.
    • Hypertension: Medication to control blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), is often prescribed. These medications can help protect the kidneys and reduce proteinuria.
    • Infections: If an infection is the cause of proteinuria, antibiotics or antiviral medications may be necessary.

  2. Dietary Changes: A kidney-friendly diet that limits salt and protein intake may be recommended to reduce kidney strain.

  3. Medications to Reduce Proteinuria:

    • ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril) and ARBs (e.g., losartan) can reduce proteinuria and protect kidney function, especially in patients with diabetes or hypertension.
    • Diuretics may be prescribed if there is fluid retention (edema).

  4. Dialysis or Kidney Transplant: In severe cases of kidney failure, dialysis may be required to filter waste from the blood. A kidney transplant may be needed if kidney function cannot be restored.

Preventing Kidney Damage

  • Control blood sugar: If you have diabetes, keeping blood glucose levels under control can help prevent kidney damage.
  • Monitor blood pressure: Regularly check blood pressure, and if elevated, work with your healthcare provider to manage it.
  • Avoid smoking: Smoking can worsen kidney function and contribute to the progression of kidney disease.
  • Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water supports kidney function, but it’s important to follow any specific fluid recommendations from your doctor.

Conclusion

Elevated Total Protein in urine is an important indicator of kidney health. Early detection and treatment can help prevent further kidney damage and associated complications. If you have elevated protein in your urine, it’s essential to work closely with your healthcare provider to determine the cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Regular monitoring and managing underlying health conditions like diabetes and hypertension are key to protecting your kidneys and overall health.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.

Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.

With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.

For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.

It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.

If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.

There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."

Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.

For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.

We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.

Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.

Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.

For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.

Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.

Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.

The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.

For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.

Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.

You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.

Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.

Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.

We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.

1. Graph View:

Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.

2. All Tests View

Explore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.

3. Table View:

For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.

Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.

Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.

Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.

Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.

A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.

The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.

To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.

Yes, you can! Simply go to the "Invite Doctor" section, enter your doctor’s email address, and send the invitation. Your doctor will receive an email with secure access to view your results. You can revoke this access at any time. All shared information is securely encrypted and protected for your privacy.
Yes, you can! Go to the Graph view or Spreadsheet view. In the top-right corner, click "Export to Excel," and the file will be downloaded to your device.

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Navigate to Urinalysis

Popular search

24 Hour Urine Iodine, Albumin, 24 Hour Urine, Albumin, Urine, Alpha-1-Globulin, Urine, Alpha-2-Globulin, Urine, Aluminum, Urine, Aluminum, Urine 24 Hr, Aluminum/Crt Ratio, Amorphous Sediment, Appearance, Arsenic (Inorganic), Urine, Arsenic (Total), Urine, Arsenic, Urine 24 Hr, Bacteria, Beta Globulin, Urine, Bilirubin, Urine, Cadmium, Urine, Calcium Oxalate Crystals, Calcium, Urine, Calcium, Urine 24hr, Chloride, Urine, Color, Coproporphyrin I, Coproporphyrin III, Creatinine (CRT), Urine, Creatinine Timed Urine, Creatinine Urine Excretion, Creatinine, Ur 24hr, Creatinine-corrected Urine Iodine, Escherichia coli, Gamma Globulin, Urine, Glucose Qualitative, Urine, Heptacarboxyporphyrin, Hexacarboxyporphyrin, Hyaline Cast, Iodine, 24 Hr Urine, IODINE, RANDOM URINE, Iodine, Urine, Ketones, Urine, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp pneumoniae, Lead, 24 hour urine, Lead, Urine, Leukocyte Esterase, Urine, M-Spike (Urine), Magnesium (24 Hour Urine), Manganese, 24 Hr, Urine, Mercury, Urine, Mercury, Urine 24 Hr, Mercury/Creatinine Ratio, Urine, Methyl Histamine/Crea.ratio, Mucus, Nitrite, Urine, OSMOLALITY (U), Pentacarboxyporphyrin, Phosphorus, Polymorphs, Porphyrins, Potassium, Urine, Protein, 24hr calculated (Urine), Protein/Creat Ratio, Pus Cells, Red Blood Cells (RBC), Urine, Sodium, Urine, Squamous Epithelial Cells, Total Porphyrins, Total Protein, Urine, Tripelphosphates, urine qualitative, Urine Occult Blood, Urine pH, Urine Specific Gravity, Urobilinogen Bilirubin, Urine, Uroporphyrin I, Uroporphyrin III, White Blood Cells (WBC), Urine, Yeast