Albumin/globulin ratio (A/G ratio)
DEAlbumin/Globulin-Quotient (A/G-Quotient)
The albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio compares two groups of proteins in your blood. It is calculated as albumin divided by (total protein minus albumin). The 'globulin' part includes antibodies, complement proteins, inflammation proteins, and transport proteins. In healthy adults it usually runs about 1.1 to 2.5. A low ratio has two possible causes. One is too little albumin. Causes there include malnutrition, liver disease, and nephrotic syndrome. The other is too much globulin. Causes there include chronic inflammation, multiple myeloma, cirrhosis, and autoimmune disease. An inverted ratio (under 1.0) is worth investigating. In population studies, a higher A/G ratio goes with better nutrition and less inflammation. A lower one is independently tied to more frailty, shorter telomeres, higher death risk, and faster aging. It reflects both your liver's protein-making and your immune system's inflammatory state. So the A/G ratio adds context to albumin and globulin read on their own.
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