Pre-Albumin (protein) Low, Why?

Hello, I want to start out by thanking in advance for any insight you can provide... I went for my 2 year surgiversary appointment, the docs office called me with the results of my blood work and told me my pre-albumin which is the protein indicator was a little low ( 17, normal range is 20-34)...Now this has me a little confused and this is what I said to my surgeon - I don't understand how my protein count could be this low when I know I am eating 80-100 grams of protein a day either in regular food or supplement form, his best suggestion was to add another protein drink a day to try and get it up... What I want to know is if other further out WLSers have had problems with low protein and the reasons they have been told as to why and how much they have been told to shoot for as daily intake to combat the low numbers...My surgeons office sent me a link to a recent medical article about RNY affecting protein absorbtion by as much as 50%... I'm really at a loss here, any help would be greatly appreciated... Thanks, Alesia

Alesia, it definitely sounds like you're not absorbing sufficient protein to keep your levels up.  How each of us responds to the surgery is different. My protein, as an example, is fabulous and always has been. However, my iron? Is best not mentioned. Now you'd think if I could absorb enough protein that I should be getting enough iron, but no, that would be too easy, apparently, for my body. My suggestion would be just to try various kinds of iron --not just soy but soy and whey -- and maybe see a nutritionist.  This is common, unfortunately, but I also think it's fixable. BTW, do you know what your levels were at your one year visit? And how have they trended since then?

Thank you Miss Vicky, it is a good suggestion to try different types of protein supplements, I have been sticking to whey protein...  Alesia

You probably just malaborb more protein then some others do.  There are definitely differences in what bodies absorb or don't absorb well. My labs are great but I do 2-3 protein shakes a day.  I try not to count on my body to absorb from food since I have no clue what it does or doesn't absorb well. Good luck! Kathy

Thanks Kathy, I had been doing 2 shakes a day for quite some time, but cut back to one about 18 months out because I was able to physically eat more and thought that was making up the difference...Obviously not, so I will be upping it back to at least 2 a day and see if that helps...  Alesia

My protein  is almost always a little low and I too consume probably 100 grams a day through food and supplements. The nutritionist told me that I must not absorb it as efficiently as other people do. I feel good and so far it hasn't been low enough to cause problems. However, I don't think I have ever been within the "normal range" and I am almost 3 years out. PS First time poster on OH!

 Hi Donna, Thanks for the insight...I certainly feel very well am active and not having typical low protein problems like hair loss (got so much my hair dresser has to thin it when she cuts it)...I was low all my prior check ups too, doc said 19 was the # when I did my 1 year...Guess this is how I'm going to be, but do want to keep tabs so I don't do any unhealthy damage to my body... Alesia

I have trouble keeping my prealbumin level up OR I did until I changed protein powders.  I drink 3 - 30 gram protein shakes daily that consist of Champion Pure Whey Stack chocolate and ProScore 100 chocolate mixed.  I use the PS100 scoop in both powders and that makes a shake of 167 calories and 30 grams of protein.  I mix with water.  When I changed my protein to include the PS100 is when my numbers went up.  I don't especially care for PS100 all by itself, but it works nicely mixed this way with the Champion Pure Whey Stack.  

Thank you for the suggestion, where can I buy the PS100, don't think I have seen this protein before? Alesia

ProScore 100 is a Champion product.  www.vitalady.com carries it and it happens to be her favorite protein.  I won't go that far, but it has done wonders with my protein levels so I do use it with the other Champion product.  It tends to mix clumpier and mixing with another powder and shaking well helps with that quite a bit.  I don't care about that since it was my protein levels that needed tending to.