Does Drinking Water Lower Albumin Levels? The Surprising Truth

November 16, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2021 study published in Medicine, higher water intake is associated with a lower risk of albuminuria, or albumin in the urine. However, when considering the question of does drinking water lower albumin levels, it's crucial to understand the distinct effects on both blood and urine concentrations.

Quick Summary

Drinking enough water can correct artificially high blood albumin caused by dehydration and is associated with lower levels of urinary albumin. It does not, however, significantly reduce low serum albumin stemming from underlying liver disease, malnutrition, or inflammation.

Key Points

Blood vs. Urine Albumin: The effects of drinking water differ significantly for albumin in your blood (serum albumin) versus albumin in your urine (albuminuria).
Dehydration Raises Serum Albumin: Lack of fluid concentrates your blood, causing a blood test to show an artificially high serum albumin level. Rehydrating corrects this measurement.
Water Lowers Urinary Albumin: Higher water intake is associated with a lower risk of albuminuria by supporting kidney function and suppressing the hormone vasopressin.
Water Doesn't Fix Low Serum Albumin: Drinking more water will not raise genuinely low serum albumin (hypoalbuminemia), which is a symptom of serious underlying conditions like liver or kidney disease.
Address the Root Cause: Effective treatment for low serum albumin focuses on diagnosing and managing the primary condition, not simply on fluid intake.
Seek Medical Advice: Symptoms of low albumin, such as swelling (edema) or fatigue, require proper diagnosis from a healthcare provider to determine the true cause.

Understanding Albumin: Blood vs. Urine

Albumin is a vital protein made in the liver that circulates in the blood, performing several important functions. These include maintaining the correct fluid pressure within blood vessels, transporting hormones and nutrients, and helping to regulate blood pH. The concentration of albumin measured in a blood test is called serum albumin, while the presence of albumin in urine is called albuminuria. The role of water differs significantly depending on which type is being discussed.

Dehydration and Elevated Serum Albumin

One of the most common reasons for a high serum albumin reading is dehydration. A blood test measures the concentration of substances in the blood, not the total amount. When a person is dehydrated, the total volume of fluid in their blood decreases. Since the amount of albumin remains the same, its concentration per unit of blood increases, leading to an artificially high reading. Rehydrating corrects this concentration issue, restoring the serum albumin to its normal baseline level. In this specific scenario, drinking water does indeed lower the measured concentration of albumin by re-establishing proper blood volume.

Water Intake and Albuminuria

Albuminuria, the presence of albumin in the urine, is a marker of kidney damage because healthy kidneys should filter out waste while retaining important proteins like albumin. Research has shown a beneficial relationship between increased water intake and lower urinary albumin levels, especially in individuals at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The mechanism may involve water suppressing vasopressin, a hormone that can have harmful effects on kidney function. By promoting healthier kidney function, adequate hydration helps reduce the leakage of albumin into the urine. This is why proper hydration is a key recommendation for managing kidney health and preventing the progression of CKD.

The Real Causes of Low Serum Albumin (Hypoalbuminemia)

While hydration can influence the measurement of serum albumin in cases of dehydration and impact urinary albumin, it is not a cure for true hypoalbuminemia. Low serum albumin levels are a symptom of a more serious underlying health issue. Drinking water will not fix the root cause of these conditions. Some of the most common causes of low albumin include:

Liver Disease: Conditions like cirrhosis or hepatitis impair the liver's ability to produce albumin.
Malnutrition or Malabsorption: If the body does not get enough protein or cannot absorb it properly due to conditions like Crohn's disease, albumin synthesis can decrease.
Kidney Disease: In conditions like nephrotic syndrome, damaged kidneys leak large amounts of albumin into the urine, causing levels to drop in the blood.
Inflammation and Infection: Sepsis, severe burns, and other critical illnesses can trigger an inflammatory response that decreases albumin production.

Hydration and Albumin: A Comparison Table


Feature	Dehydration Effect on Serum Albumin	True Low Serum Albumin (Hypoalbuminemia)
Primary Cause	Loss of fluid volume from the blood.	Underlying medical condition impacting production or increasing loss.
Albumin Concentration	Appears high due to hemoconcentration.	Is genuinely low and does not return to normal with hydration.
Effect of Drinking Water	Rehydrates, diluting the blood and normalizing the measured albumin level.	Has little to no effect on raising the total albumin protein level.
Key Intervention	Rehydration with fluids.	Treating the specific underlying condition, such as liver or kidney disease.

The Importance of Correct Diagnosis

When a blood test reveals abnormal albumin levels, proper medical diagnosis is essential. While hydration is a fundamental component of overall health, relying on drinking more water to fix a serious underlying problem is not recommended. If you experience symptoms like swelling (edema), fatigue, unexplained weight loss, or changes in urination, it is important to consult a healthcare professional. A comprehensive evaluation, including a review of your medical history and other lab results, will determine the true cause of the albumin abnormality and guide the appropriate treatment plan. The link between water and albumin is nuanced; for blood albumin, water fixes concentration, but for urinary albumin, it supports kidney health. Drinking water does not replace treating the root cause of low albumin.

Conclusion

While a direct cause-and-effect relationship between drinking water and lowering truly low serum albumin levels does not exist, hydration plays a vital role in interpreting test results and supporting kidney function. Drinking water can correct the falsely elevated albumin readings caused by dehydration, an effect known as hemoconcentration. Furthermore, maintaining adequate hydration is associated with a lower risk of albuminuria, a sign of kidney damage. However, for true hypoalbuminemia caused by serious conditions like liver disease or malnutrition, treatment must focus on the underlying medical issue. Ultimately, understanding how hydration influences albumin differently in blood and urine is key to an accurate diagnosis and effective management. For more information on albumin blood tests and what the results mean, visit MedlinePlus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, dehydration can cause blood albumin levels to appear high. When you are dehydrated, your blood volume decreases, which concentrates the albumin, leading to a higher reading on a blood test.

Your doctor will consider other test results and your clinical presentation. A disproportionate increase in your blood urea nitrogen (BUN) to creatinine ratio is a common indicator of dehydration. After rehydration, your albumin levels should return to normal if dehydration was the cause.

No, drinking water is not a cure for truly low albumin, known as hypoalbuminemia. Low albumin is a symptom of another condition, such as liver disease or malnutrition, and treating the underlying cause is necessary.

The most common causes of hypoalbuminemia include liver disease (which impairs albumin production), kidney disease (which causes albumin loss in urine), chronic inflammation, and severe malnutrition.

Yes, increased water intake is associated with a lower risk of albuminuria, or albumin in the urine. This is believed to help kidney function and reduce the leakage of protein.

In cases where dehydration is the cause, albumin levels can typically return to their normal baseline within 24 to 48 hours of proper rehydration.

Symptoms of low albumin can include edema (swelling), fatigue, jaundice, and unexplained weight loss. If you experience these, you should consult a doctor to identify the root cause.