Urine Albumin Concentration
Kidney Function marker
Urine Albumin
Urine Albumin Concentration
Category: Kidney Function
Unit: mg/L
Albumin in urine. Elevated levels (microalbuminuria) indicate early kidney damage, even before eGFR declines.
PED Notes
Intense training can cause transient proteinuria — collect sample on a rest day for accurate baseline. High-dose AAS, especially trenbolone and oral 17-alpha alkylated compounds, may stress kidney filtration. Elevated urine albumin alongside high creatinine or low eGFR warrants further investigation. NSAIDs (commonly used for joint pain) can also impair renal function.
If Elevated:
- First rule out transient causes: intense exercise within 48h, fever, UTI, dehydration
- Retest on a rest day with normal hydration for accurate baseline
- If persistently elevated (>25 mg/L), calculate ACR for clinical staging
Key Context for Athletes:
- Exercise-induced proteinuria is common and resolves within 24-48h of rest
- Always collect first morning urine for most accurate result
- Single elevated result should be confirmed with 2 more samples over 3-6 months
Supplements (if confirmed persistent elevation):
- Omega-3 Fish Oil -- 2-4g/day (anti-inflammatory, may reduce proteinuria)
- CoQ10 -- 100-200mg/day (renal antioxidant)
- Astragalus -- 500-1000mg/day (traditional renoprotective)
Lifestyle:
- Control blood pressure (<130/80 mmHg) — hypertension worsens proteinuria
- Limit NSAID use
- Assess nephrotoxic compound use (trenbolone, high-dose orals)
- If ACR consistently >2.5 mg/mmol with declining eGFR → nephrology referral
References:
- Calder, P. C. (2017). Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: From molecules to man. Biochemical Society Transactions, 45(5), 1105-1115. DOI: 10.1042/BST20160474
- Zhang, H. W., Lin, Z. X., Xu, C., Leung, C., & Chan, L. S. (2014). Astragalus (a traditional Chinese medicine) for treating chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(10), CD008369. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008369.pub2
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reference Ranges
Standard Range
0 - 25 mg/L