Urea

Urea is a waste product formed when the body breaks down amino acids and proteins from the food we ingest.

Brief about urea

Healthy kidneys efficiently remove urea from the body.
By analyzing P-Urea, one can get an idea of kidney function.
Men have slightly higher urea concentrations in the blood than women.

Table of contents

Urea is a waste product formed when the body breaks down amino acids and proteins from the food we ingest.

What is urea?

Urea is a waste product formed when the body breaks down amino acids and proteins after we have eaten. The body cannot use urea, so it must be removed from the body. Most of it is excreted through the kidneys in the urine, and a small portion is excreted through the skin and the digestive tract.

By analyzing P-Urea, one can get an idea of kidney function. Normally, there are small amounts of urea left in the bloodstream. Higher amounts of urea in the bloodstream may indicate impaired kidney function.

What does a high value mean?

A high value may be seen in conditions such as:

Reduced urine output, i.e., low urine production
Kidney dysfunction, which may include kidney damage, kidney failure, or disease
Increased protein intake, for example, through food
Increased protein breakdown, for example, during prolonged bed rest, trauma, or fever
Intake of medications that are nephrotoxic, meaning medications that cause kidney damage

What does a low value mean?

A low value may be seen in conditions such as:

High diuresis, i.e., high urine production
Liver failure
Low protein intake
The late stage of pregnancy when the fetus uses protein to grow
Malnutrition
Nephrotic syndrome, a condition where protein leaks from the blood into the urine
Intake of certain medications such as diuretics and growth hormone