Albumin is the most abundant plasmatic
protein. It is only produced by the liver and the full extent of its metabolic functions is not known in detail. One of the main roles assigned to
albumin is as an
indicator of
malnutrition. There are many factors, in addition to nutrition, that influence levels of
albumin in plasma. The main aim of this review is to assess the clinical significance of
albumin in elderly people in the community, in hospital and in care homes. Following the review, it can be stated that age is not a cause of
hypoalbuminemia.
Albumin is a good marker of nutritional status in clinically stable people. Significant loss of muscle mass has been observed in elderly people with low
albumin levels.
Hypoalbuminemia is a mortality prognostic factor in elderly people, whether they live in the community or they are in hospital or institutionalized. Low levels of
albumin are associated to worse recovery following acute pathologies. Inflammatory state and, particularly, high concentrations of
IL-6 and
TNF-alpha, are two of the main influencing factors of
hypoalbuminemia. In elderly patients with a hip fracture,
albumin levels below 38 g/L are associated to a higher risk of post-surgery complications, especially
infections. Further research is needed on the impact of nutritional intervention upon
albumin levels and on the outcomes in elderly people in the community, in hospital and in care.