Some disorders related to a low BUN level in the blood are pregnancy and acromegaly. BUN levels in toddlers are around 66 of the levels found in an. Generally, blood urea nitrogen levels increase with increasing age. BUN levels also change with gender and age and during pregnancy. A result greater than 50 mg/dL indicates an underlying medical problem. A higher than normal BUN level may be a sign that your kidneys are not working well. The range of normal levels of blood urea nitrogen is between 7 and 22 mg/dL. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. In general, about 7 - 20 mg/dL is a normal level. If kidneys do not work properly urea remains in the bloodstream and its concentration in the blood will be abnormally higher.Ī BUN level below the normal range may be a sign of a low-protein diet or a liver disorder (the liver is not doing a proper protein metabolism). In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Kidney disorders ( kidney failure, nephropathies, etc.).High protein catabolism (due to an excessive consumption of proteins, etc.).A decrease in the plasma volume due to dehydration or upper GI (gastrointestinal) bleeding.Urea level in the blood is directly related to nutrition, protein metabolism/catabolism and renal functionality.Ī high level of BUN in the blood may be due to: Urea is a marker for kidneys and liver activity. Maximum values increase with the age and are higher in elderly people. Age is an important factor to normal ranges.If your test is expressed in urea you must convert the values from urea to BUN or the information given will not be specific for your case. Warning: In this page we talk about BUN levels. Consulting a doctor for abnormal levels is advisable. However, deviations from this range warrant prompt medical attention. Typically, levels between 6 mg/dL to 20 mg/dL suggest no concerns. High BUN levels could indicate health issues. Urea = BUN * 2.1428 or BUN= Urea * 0.4667. Your BUN level of 38 is a High BUN level. It important to know if the values measured are the BUN levels used in the US and other countries or instead the values measured are the total urea used in Europe and around the world.There are some circumstances to take into account about BUN normal ranges in the blood: Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. Higher-than-average AST levels may be a sign of liver damage or liver disease, though there may be other causes at play.Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for BUN in the blood. SummaryĪn AST test looks for blood levels of aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme found mostly in the liver. Other research has suggested that higher vegetable intake is associated with lower levels of ALT, though more research is needed to determine how diet may impact AST levels.Īsk a healthcare provider about tangible ways you can ensure your liver is as healthy as possible and reduce the risk of liver problems. For example, research has shown that physical activity is associated with a lower risk of chronic liver disease.

Regardless of your AST test results, you can make changes to promote liver health. Other risk factors are modifiable, meaning you can change them, such as getting help for alcohol use disorder or talking to your healthcare provider about switching to medications that don’t potentially cause liver damage, where possible.

Certain risk factors for liver disease are unmodifiable, meaning you can’t change them, such as having a family history of liver disease or living with diabetes.

Bun levels normal range