Proteins

The total protein test is used to diagnose, screen and monitor the condition of people showing abnormal levels of proteins in their bodies. The primary misconception of blood, plasma and serum is that they are similar to each other. The whole blood contains formed elements and plasma proteins. Formed elements are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Thus, the ‘whole blood’ minus formed elements is the plasma proteins or the base for our blood. Plasma fosters clots with the clotting proteins, namely fibrinogen. Albumin is a type of plasma protein that accounts for 80% authority for controlling the body’s osmotic pressure to prevent fluid from leaking. Globulin plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s immune system. These proteins have various functions like, maintaining viscosity and osmotic pressure, ensuring acid-base balance, promoting blood clotting, playing a crucial role in defence mechanisms, transporting nutrients and respiratory gases and removing waste products from the body to the kidney. Any abnormality or deviation of protein from their normal ranges can be reflected using a protein test. The total protein test also measures the total protein levels (as a summation of albumin and globulin) as well as individual levels. Further, by means of protein tests, one can also measure the values of several types of globulin in the blood. Abnormality in the protein levels is the primary cause behind India facing malnutrition at a higher rate. Some contributory risk factors behind protein malnutrition are lack of food, poverty and poor hygiene. With the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the Government of India aims to provide a safety net for youth, adolescent girls and pregnant women, especially as they are at a higher level risk of developing malnutrition. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an average Indian adult needs to consume 1 gram of protein per kilogram of their body weight per day. For example, if a person weighs 50 kg, they must consume at least 50 grams of protein per day to meet the body’s requirement. In the practical world, nearly 73% of Indians have a protein deficiency and above 90% are unaware of the recommended daily intake.