Medical expert of the article
New publications
The norm of protein in urine
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
[ Who to contact?
Protein levels in urine during pregnancy
A certain amount of protein can be found in the urine of everyone. It is generally accepted that the norm of protein in urine during pregnancy is 0.033 g/l. Proteinuria is not only a sign of pathology, it can be physiological in nature. Protein in urine can naturally be found in greater quantities when consuming a large amount of proteins the day before the analysis: dairy products, cottage cheese, meat. Proteinuria also occurs with severe stress, moral exhaustion.
Pregnant women also often experience cystitis, urethritis, and pyelonephritis.
Another serious disease of pregnant women, which occurs with increased protein levels and edema, is gestosis. Advanced cases of gestosis lead to increased edema, epigastric pain, headaches, and convulsions, which are dangerous for pregnancy.
It is important to control the emptying of the bladder. The rules for submitting urine are not at all complicated:
- You can't eat salty, sour or a lot of meat the day before.
- Before taking the test, you must take a shower and wash yourself.
- When transporting the sample to the laboratory, do not shake the container.
- The test must be delivered to the clinic within an hour.
- Collect urine as soon as you wake up.
The color, reaction and specific gravity of urine are also determined.
Pregnant women take a urine test every 2 months. It is very important to take a urine test in proven modern laboratories.
If the doctor has any doubts, he may also prescribe a urine test according to Nechiporenko or a repeated general urine test - you never know, maybe the dishes were not sterile. There may be protein left in the jar from the product.
Of course, toxicosis and constant examinations are not very pleasant companions of pregnancy, but there are many more positive moments. Many health problems can be easily identified by the condition of urine.
Normal protein levels in a child's urine
Protein in the urine of children should not normally be detected. Although sometimes a protein content of up to 0.036 g/l is allowed in the urine. A pediatrician may prescribe a urine test for protein to monitor kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract infection (cystitis, urethritis). Mild proteinuria does not manifest itself clinically. However, if the protein level in the urine of a child is exceeded for a long time within 300 mg-1 g/l, fatigue, nephropathy, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, reddened urine, chills and fever occur.
Increased protein content in urine is associated with systemic diseases of connective tissue, diabetes mellitus or kidney inflammation, mechanical kidney injury, hypothermia, burns.
Daily urine protein norm
The normal protein level in daily urine at rest is about 50-100 mg/day. To determine protein in urine, a general urine analysis is first performed.
If protein is detected in a general urine analysis, it is necessary to also examine daily urine. Mild proteinuria is protein content less than 0.5 g/day, moderate – 0.5 g-1 g/day. If more than 1 g of protein is excreted in urine per day, this indicates severe proteinuria. Increased protein in daily urine is the first sign of diabetic nephropathy and kidney inflammation.
Acceptable level of protein in urine
The acceptable limit of "protein in urine" is absence or traces of 0.025-0.1 g/day. The normal concentration of protein in morning urine is usually considered to be < 0.033 g/l.
Physiological and pathological proteinuria (a condition in which the protein level in urine is exceeded) are distinguished. Physiological proteinuria is caused by emotional and cold stress and fever. A characteristic feature of pathological proteinuria is its persistence.
Is there more protein in your urine than normal?
High blood pressure, diabetes, pyelonephritis, cancer, gestosis of pregnant women, cystitis, tuberculosis of the kidneys, malaria, pericarditis, arthritis, myeloma, trauma, prolonged standing are the main causes of increased protein in the urine.
The test requires 150 ml of urine or more. Urine analysis is a simple test. But it is very valuable for a doctor. In modern laboratories, the result is ready in 40 minutes.
The protein level in urine is an important laboratory indicator for selecting adequate treatment.