How to Reduce Protein in Urine

It is common for protein to appear in urine. However, when the level exceeds 150mg/day, your doctor will inform you that the protein level is unusually high. Sometimes, protein levels may increase temporarily and resolve on their own, but if this issue frequently occurs or is severe, it is important to seek medical attention. Persistent protein in urine is often a sign of kidney disease or other health issues.

Implement methods to lower blood pressure. High blood pressure forces the kidneys to work harder, and since proteinuria (high protein levels in urine) is almost always related to kidney problems, reducing blood pressure can significantly help. Strategies to reduce blood pressure include:

• Reduce salt intake in your diet. To do this, avoid using excessive salt when cooking at home. It is also important to minimize eating out or consuming processed foods, as they often contain high levels of salt (much higher than home-cooked meals).
• Reduce cholesterol. Cholesterol buildup forms plaques in the arteries, which raises blood pressure. Have your doctor perform a blood test to measure fat and cholesterol levels to determine if these need to be addressed in your diet.

Take medication for high blood pressure. In fact, anyone diagnosed with kidney disease or kidney dysfunction (which are the main causes of consistently high protein levels in urine) will be prescribed medication for high blood pressure. Specifically, doctors typically prescribe "ACE inhibitors" (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors). Examples include Ramipril, Captopril, and Lisinopril. The advantage of this class of hypertension medication is that they offer additional benefits (and a "protective effect") for the kidneys.

• Ask your doctor to prescribe this medication if you are not already taking it.
• For severe kidney disease cases, blood pressure medication alone may not be enough.

Consult your doctor about other treatment options. For instance, if an autoimmune disease is causing kidney issues (and thus protein in the urine), you will need medication to suppress your immune system. If the kidney problem (and proteinuria) is a complication of diabetes, medications like Metformin or Insulin are required to better control blood sugar levels. There are many potential underlying causes for kidney problems leading to proteinuria, so it is important to discuss the best treatment options with your doctor.

Diagnose the cause. It is essential to understand that the only way to reduce (or treat) the condition of protein in urine is by diagnosing its underlying cause. This is because protein in urine is not the root problem but a symptom indicating something else is happening. Only by diagnosing and treating "the something" can you address the issue of high protein in urine.

Identify the type of "proteinuria" you are experiencing. There are three types of proteinuria, and the good news is that two of these types typically do not require treatment, as they usually resolve on their own over time. However, the third type necessitates a full health evaluation to identify any underlying causes. The three types of proteinuria are:

• Transient proteinuria. This occurs when a urine test shows high protein levels, but it will gradually decrease and return to normal in subsequent tests. Transient proteinuria is often linked to extreme stress, such as illness causing fever, or intense physical activity (like long-distance running). After the stress or when your body adjusts, the protein levels will normalize.
• Postural proteinuria. This is when high protein levels are associated with a change in position (standing, sitting, and lying down). This type of proteinuria is rare and typically occurs in teenagers. It does not require treatment and generally resolves as you grow older.
• Persistent proteinuria. This is when protein levels in the urine remain high after several tests. This suggests an underlying health issue such as kidney disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or another medical condition. You will need multiple tests to diagnose and treat the condition.

Assess the temporary stress you are currently experiencing. As mentioned earlier, if you are currently suffering from a fever due to illness, exercising more than usual, or dealing with significant life pressures, your protein levels in urine may temporarily increase due to this stress. It is essential to follow up after a few days to retake the urine test (and measure protein levels), at which point your doctor may confirm that the protein levels have decreased and/or returned to normal. If you have "transient proteinuria," the good news is that no treatment is required, and the protein levels should naturally return to normal within a few days to weeks.

• Note that if you're experiencing "temporary stress" (such as fever, exercise, or other stressors), it’s advisable to visit your doctor and retake the urine test to ensure there are no underlying serious conditions.

Request a follow-up urine test. It is crucial to retake the urine test because multiple results are necessary to monitor protein levels and determine if the condition may improve on its own. Your doctor may ask you to collect a sample at the clinic or provide a collection container to take home and then send the sample to the laboratory. When storing the urine sample at home, ensure it is kept cool in the refrigerator until you submit it to the laboratory for analysis.

Blood test. An additional diagnostic test that might be required is a blood test, especially if there is a suspicion of kidney disease or other health issues. If your doctor recommends a blood test, they will typically measure BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine levels. Both of these indicators reflect kidney function, providing your doctor with vital information about your kidney health.

• They may also request other blood tests, such as HbA1c (diabetes test) or autoimmune antibody tests if they suspect an autoimmune condition.
• The tests required will depend on your medical history and the health issues that your doctor believes you are at highest risk of.

Kidney biopsy test. In certain cases, a kidney biopsy may be necessary to gather additional information for identifying the cause of proteinuria. However, this is rarely required unless the doctor cannot determine the cause.

Remember that protein in urine during pregnancy is a separate issue. If you are currently pregnant and experiencing elevated protein levels in your urine, this could be due to preeclampsia. Refer to the article on How to Manage Preeclampsia Syndrome for more information about preeclampsia and the increased protein levels in urine during pregnancy.