Understanding Urine Protein Results
If you get bloodwork done and end up having protein in your urine, it could signify that the body is not functioning optimally. Proteinuria, or protein in the urine, can sometimes be a sign that the kidneys are damaged or that other bodily systems are not functioning well, and it may require additional testing. Read this article for everything you need to know.
What Is Protein in the Urine?
There are different kinds of protein in the body, and it is normal to have protein in the blood. [1] The protein in the blood is known as albumin. If you have protein showing up in the urine, this may mean that the kidneys are removing protein from the blood, and it is going into the urine. This is not the way that the kidneys should be functioning, as healthy kidneys do not allow protein to leak into the urine. [1]
If you are having protein leaking into your urine, it is important to seek additional follow-up care with your healthcare provider so that they can determine the cause of the protein in the urine.
What Causes Protein in the Urine?
There are several things that can cause protein to show up in the urine. Some of the common causes include: [2]
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Dehydration
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Kidney function issues
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Intense levels of stress
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Having low blood pressure
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Certain medications (in high doses or with chronic use), such as aspirin
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Certain health conditions and diseases
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Preeclampsia during pregnancy
Most commonly, protein in the urine is caused by some sort of damage to the kidneys. There is follow-up testing that can be completed with your care provider to get to the bottom of what is causing this issue.
Symptoms of Proteinuria
Protein in the urine sometimes presents without any symptoms. However, some symptoms of proteinuria can include: [2]
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Swelling of the ankles, face, or feet
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Peeing more frequently
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Lack of appetite
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Nausea and vomiting
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Tiredness
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Muscle cramping
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Foamy or bubbly urine
If you are experiencing new symptoms, including any of the ones listed above, it is best to consult with your healthcare provider for next steps and personalized guidance.
What Does Testing of Urine Entail and What Do Results Mean?
Understanding urine protein results is important so that you know where your levels are compared to normal levels. If you are going to have urine testing completed, it can be helpful to go into it understanding what to expect. Typically, a urine sample is fairly easy to collect, as you can just pee into a cup. From there, a healthcare provider will use a dipstick to see what proteins show up. [3] You can collect the urine samples at home or likely at the healthcare provider’s office.
There shouldn’t be anything special that needs to be done prior to completing the urine test. It is helpful for the providers to know a list of medications or supplements that you are taking, as these can sometimes skew the results. [3]
Normal results of a protein urine test are considered to be 0 to 14 mg/dL. [3] If your results are higher than this range, it could signify that something else is going on, and that follow-up testing may be needed. There are no risks associated with completing a urine protein test.
How Is Proteinuria Treated?
If your healthcare provider determines that you have protein in your urine, there will likely be steps to treat the underlying cause. If the cause is due to diabetes, there will be measures put into place to help you better manage your blood sugar. [4] This could be through diet, exercise, and medications. Better management of blood sugar can improve kidney health, which helps to prevent protein from leaking into the urine.
If your proteinuria is due to high blood pressure, a healthcare provider may similarly help you to better manage your blood pressure. This can be better managed with diet, exercise, and medication.
If you are dehydrated, being adequately hydrated will improve kidney function. If the protein in the urine is due to kidney disease, a healthcare provider will also need to help you manage your kidney disease to prevent protein from leaking into the urine. [4]
In addition, following a lower protein diet may aid in reducing protein in the urine. [5] Especially in the case of comorbidities like chronic kidney disease, there is some research to indicate that a balanced, vegetarian diet may be helpful for some people for optimizing proteinuria. However, there is also research to indicate that a more normal protein-filled diet that is mindful of carbohydrates may be helpful for managing proteinuria. While more research is needed to draw more definitive results, it is advisable to work with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized nutrition suggestions and plans if you are experiencing proteinuria.
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