Albuminit is a protein produced in the liver that is found in blood plasma. It is also found in foods such as milk and eggs. In the human body, albumin has the main function of maintaining colloid osmotic pressure. In addition, it binds with various substances, ensuring, for example, the transport of fatty acids through the body.
Albumin is used as a food supplement, mainly by people who need to ingest a large amount of protein during the day, such as athletes. In these cases, albumin is a great alternative to recover, maintain and increase muscle mass.
Read too: Collagen — what is the function of this protein in our body?
Topics of this article
- 1 - Summary about albumin
- 2 - What is albumin?
- 3 - What is albumin used for?
- 4 - Albumin as a supplement
- 5 - Can albumin be harmful to health?
Albumin summary
It is one of the main plasma proteins and is synthesized in the liver.
Its main function is to produce the so-called colloid osmotic pressure in the plasma.
It also acts in the transport of substances, binding to different hydrophobic molecules.
Albumin supplementation is recommended for people who need a high protein diet, such as athletes.
Supplementation helps, in these cases, in the recovery, maintenance and increase of muscle mass.
What is albumin?
Albumin it is a protein found in our body and also in some foods, such as in eggs, more precisely in egg whites, and in milk. In the human body, it is considered one of the three main proteins present in blood plasma, with globulins and fibrinogen.
The albumin é produced in the liver and it has a plasmatic concentration of 35-45 g/l, which represents 30-40% of the albumin that remains in the liver. The rest of the albumin produced is found distributed between the muscles and the skin. The dosage of albumin is done, in some situations, to diagnose some diseases, such as liver or kidney, and also to assess the nutritional status of the individual.
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What is albumin used for?
The main function of albumin is produce so-called colloid osmotic pressure in the plasma sanguine. This pressure is important as it prevents the loss of plasma from the capillaries. Furthermore, in human blood circulation, serum albumin acts transporting lipidiyou.
Fatty acids, which stand out for being practically insoluble in water, are transported to other tissues, to be used as a source of energy, by means of albumin molecules, to which fatty acids attach themselves. call. The albumin can also bind to other molecules hydrophobic, for example, bilirubin, thyroxine, steroids and even some drugs.
See too: Dietary supplements and physical activity — what are the benefits?
Albumin as a supplement
The albumin supplement it is made from the white of an egg, after going through dehydration and pasteurization processes. These processes result in a powder that stands out for its have high protein value. Albumin is marketed in capsules or in powder form, which can be found in different flavors and can be used to do, for example, shakes, which is the simplest way to use the add-in.
Albumin supplementation is recommended for people who need to increase protein consumption, especially athletes and people who practice physical activities. For this public, albumin acts contributing to muscle mass gain, since our musculature includes, among other components, proteins, essential for its formation.
Albumin is a cheaper supplement and can be an alternative for those who are lactose intolerant and milk protein allergy, when it is not recommended to use the whey protein. In addition, albumin is easily digestible and, as noted, contributes to the formation and regeneration of muscle tissues.
Can albumin be harmful to health?
It is worth noting that, despite all the benefits mentioned, it is recommended that no supplementation be done without the help of a professional. Furthermore, supplementation with albumin can cause side effectssuch as diarrhoea, irritability, cramps and gastrointestinal discomfort.
People who are allergic to eggs should also not consume albumin.. To avoid any unpleasant situation or even get better results with supplementation, always consult a nutritionist.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
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