No, simply increasing albumin does not necessarily increase total calcium concentrations.
Here's why:
While albumin binds to calcium, influencing the amount of calcium in the blood, an increase in albumin alone doesn't guarantee an increase in total calcium levels. The reference clearly states that "Total calcium concentrations would not be expected to change as a result of this increased binding by albumin," assuming no other changes occur in how calcium is distributed or removed from the body.
Think of it this way: albumin acts like a bus for calcium in the bloodstream.
- If you add more buses (albumin), you might transport more calcium if there's more calcium available to get on the buses.
- However, if the amount of calcium (the passengers) remains the same, adding more buses won't magically create more passengers. They will simply be distributed across more buses.
Therefore, the effect of albumin on calcium levels is more about distribution and binding rather than causing an absolute increase in the total amount of calcium present. Other factors, such as parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, vitamin D status, and kidney function, play a much more significant role in regulating total calcium concentrations in the body.
