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MALB itself does not damage the kidneys. So if you mean microalbumin (urine albumin) on a lab report, then the answer is no. Rather, it is a warning that the kidneys might be under stress or starting to be damaged.

Healthy kidneys filter the blood and most protein stays in the bloodstream. When the filtering units of the kidney are damaged, small amounts of albumin can leak into the urine. This is referred to as microalbuminuria and is often one of the earliest signs of kidney disease.

Common causes of this include:

  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Inflammation or kidney disease
  • Heart diseases
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

A high MALB test result does not always mean kidney disease is severe, but it does mean the kidneys need to be monitored. Controlling blood sugar, controlling blood pressure, drinking plenty of water, maintaining a healthy weight and following your doctor’s recommendations can often slow or prevent further kidney damage if managed early.

If you have a MALB test result, it’s helpful to look at it in the context of other kidney markers like urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and eGFR that provide a fuller picture of kidney health.

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