Serum Albumin

serum albumin (SA) is also known as ALB, which is the main protein of plasma and has a good binding capacity for water,Ca2+,Na+,K+,fatty acids,hormones, bilirubin and drugs.The main function of SA is the regulation of the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood. As Major zinc transporter in plasma, SA typically binds about 80% of all plasma zinc. A variant structure of albumin could lead to increased binding of zinc resulting in an asymptomatic augmentation of zinc concentration in the blood. Defects in serum albumin can cause familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia which is a form of euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia that is due to increased affinity of serum albumin for T4. It is the most common cause of inherited euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia in Caucasian population.