Albumin is a simple molecule but takes part in various important biochemical and physiologic processes occurring daily in the human body.  It is one of the key components of the blood transport system and regulates the transport of fatty acid molecules, bilirubin, tryptophan, calcium, steroid hormones and other physiologic compounds. Various factors such as association with metabolites, toxins, pharmacological drugs etc. are able to cause conformational changes in the Human Serum Albumin (HAS) molecule which can lead to transport malfunctions.   The deficiency of albumin in the human body is also detrimental and can be involved in the development of some common pathological processes.

      Serum albumin has a long half-life of approximately 15 to 20 days, with an average of 4% degraded per day.  Due to slow turnover, the serum albumin is not considered to be a good indicator of acute or mild liver dysfunction. Therefore only minimal changes in the serum albumin are seen in acute liver conditions such as viral hepatitis, drug-related hepatoxicity, and obstructive jaundice. Albumin levels <3 g/dL should raise the possibility of chronic liver disease in patients with hepatitis.

      Hypoalbuminemia, is therefore more common in chronic liver disorders such as cirrhosis and usually reflects severe liver damage and decreased albumin synthesis. One exception is the patient with ascites in whom synthesis may be normal or even increased, but laboratory levels of albumin are low because of the increased volume of distribution.  However, hypoalbuminemia is not specific for liver disease and may occur in protein malnutrition of any cause, as well as protein-losing enteropathies, nephrotic syndrome, and chronic infections that are associated with prolonged increases in levels of serum interleukin 1 (IL-1) and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and cytokines that inhibit albumin synthesis. Serum albumin is therefore not measured for screening in patients in whom there is no suspicion of liver disease.

      Thus the varied roles and functions of albumin in day-to-day living make it a vital entity to be studied for tapping its potential in diagnosing, healing or even curing.