Normally, your urine does not contain detectable amounts of protein. If you have protein in your urine, you have a condition called proteinuria, which is sometimes referred to as albuminuria. Typically, reduction of protein in your urine requires treatment of proteinuria's underlying causes. People with this disorder may also need to restrict their protein intake.
Background
Your blood contains two forms of protein, called albumin and globulin. Albumin is the more abundant protein; it supports your health by providing materials for tissue growth and maintenance, helping maintain the fluid balance inside and outside your blood vessels and transporting various molecules and chemicals in your bloodstream. Various forms of globulin help form antibodies, which are essential structures in your immune system. Normally, your body conserves these proteins by filtering them in your kidneys and returning them to your bloodstream.
Understanding Proteinuria
Proteinuria typically occurs when damage in your kidneys allows molecules of albumin or globulin to bypass normal filtration and enter your urine. In these circumstances, albumin is more likely to appear in your urine than globulin. People with proteinuria-related kidney damage commonly have a condition called chronic kidney disease, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Potential underlying causes of this disorder include high blood pressure, diabetes and any ailment that causes kidney inflammation. You can also develop temporary proteinuria as a result of seizures, urinary tract infections, emotional stress, fever, physical exertion or a pregnancy-related condition called preeclampsia.
Treatment Options
If protein levels in your urine total less than 1.5 g a day, or you have proteinuria that comes and goes, your doctor may simply monitor your condition at 6- to 12-month intervals, Patient.co.uk reports. If daily protein levels in your urine rise above 1.5 g, your doctor will likely refer you to a specialist who can make a further diagnosis and prescribe treatment that can ease the condition or slow its advance. Potential treatment options for people with diabetes include exercise, consumption of a balanced diet and proper control of blood glucose levels,. Potential treatment options for people with high blood pressure include medications called ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, which simultaneously control blood pressure and preserve kidney function.
Protein Intake
In some cases, doctors ask people with persistent, or ongoing, proteinuria to reduce the amount of protein in their diets, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry's Lab Tests Online notes. The National Kidney Foundation recommends that all people with proteinuria restrict their protein intake, in addition to restricting their intake of sodium. While this step won't necessarily reverse proteinuria, it can potentially ease your body's protein load. Consult your doctor and a registered nutritionist for protein consumption recommendations that fit your particular circumstances.
