Small amounts of protein can appear in your urine and be OK. Above a certain level, however, may indicate proteinuria, which can be a red flag for kidney disease.
Proteins are among the most important compounds in your body. They help to repair blood cells and keep your body working properly.
In a test result, protein can appear in your urine in small amounts. But higher levels of protein in urine can be a sign of a more serious condition.
This article reviews how much protein in your urine is considered normal and how much is too much. We also discuss what health conditions can cause an elevated protein level in your urine (proteinuria).
Healthcare professionals usually use the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) test to get an accurate count of proteins in urine.
Albumin is the
According to the National Kidney Foundation, a reading of 30 milligrams of protein per gram of creatinine (mg/g) or less in your urine is normal and not usually a cause for concern.
| uACR result | What it means |
|---|---|
| less than 30 mg/g | normal protein levels |
| 30 to 300 mg/g | moderately increased protein levels |
| more than 300 mg/g | severely increased protein levels |
If a healthcare professional finds higher amounts of protein in multiple urine tests over time, or the protein levels in your urine are increasing, they may want to perform additional testing or check your urine more frequently.
Increased levels over more than 3 months can indicate chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Other tests
Doctors sometimes use other tests to determine protein levels.
The urine protein-to-creatine ratio (uPCR) test measures all protein in your urine, not just albumin. Doctors use the uPCR in testing children or people with certain forms of kidney disease. Doctors interpret results as follows:
| uPCR result | What it means |
|---|---|
| less than 150 mg/g | normal or mildly increased protein levels |
| 150 to 500 mg/g | moderately increased protein levels |
| more than 500 mg/g | severely increased protein levels |
The 24-hour urine protein test measures the protein in your total urine output over a 24-hour period. While the uACR and uPCR measure a single sample, this test measures a collection (often one large jug) of all the urine you produce over 24 hours.
If your total protein levels are higher than
Trace amounts of protein in your urine aren’t usually a cause for concern. Protein can enter your urine for several reasons, and not all are a sign of a serious health problem.
Small amounts of protein can be found in your urine because of:
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- fever
- heavy exercise
- pregnancy
- certain infections or illness
- dehydration
- stress
Increased protein levels in your urine result from problems with the filtering units in your kidneys, called
Higher-than-normal levels of protein in urine are usually a sign there’s a problem with your kidneys.
If you have more than one urine test showing elevated protein levels in your urine, a healthcare professional may want to perform further tests to check how well your kidneys are working.
Protein can leak into urine due to many temporary conditions like a UTI or overexertion. But chronically high levels of protein in urine usually means CKD.
Some people may have proteinuria without realizing it. But some symptoms associated with kidney diseases also cause protein in your urine.
Some symptoms of CKD include:
- puffy eyelids
- swelling in your hands or feet
- dry or itchy skin
- changes in how much or how often you urinate
- fatigue
- appetite loss
- weight loss
- muscle cramping
- nausea
- vomiting
- shortness of breath
- sleeping problems
- difficulty concentrating
Some conditions that can
The presence of proteins in your urine and where your results fall in the above ranges aren’t the only considerations for kidney disease.
Your healthcare team will also ask you about your:
- personal and family health history
- ethnic background
- diet and lifestyle choices
- medications
- other health conditions you have
If an underlying condition is to blame for protein in your urine — such as diabetes or high blood pressure — your healthcare team will start by helping you manage those conditions. This could mean regularly checking your blood sugar or taking medications to manage your blood sugar or blood pressure.
A healthcare professional may need to directly address any issues with kidney functioning that:
- occur more spontaneously
- are due to other risk factors
- run in your family
Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet, drinking enough water, avoiding too much salt, and avoiding certain medications can help you improve your overall kidney health.
However, if you develop CKD, a doctor or specialist called a nephrologist will need to regularly monitor your kidney function and may prescribe:
- specific diet changes
- medications
- limits on your fluid intake
In cases of severe kidney disease, also known as end stage renal disease, you may have to undergo dialysis or see if you are a candidate for a kidney transplant.
Protein in your urine can be normal in small amounts, but higher levels found on multiple occasions are usually a sign of kidney disease or damage.
If you are experiencing symptoms of kidney issues, or have risk factors or a family history of kidney disease, talk with a healthcare professional about screening. Urine protein level tests are often part of a wellness or preventive care screening.