Albumin/Globulin Ratio: what your level actually means
Also known as: A/G Ratio, Albumin-Globulin Ratio · Updated 19 Aug 2026 · Educational — not medical advice
The short answer: The albumin/globulin ratio, or A/G ratio, is normally between about 1.1 and 2.5, meaning there is usually somewhat more albumin than globulin in the blood. It is a calculated value derived from the same total protein and albumin measurements used to figure out globulin, so it doesn't add new information on its own but instead offers a quick way to see whether the balance between these two protein groups has shifted.
Where does your value sit?
This Albumin/Globulin Ratio value is inside the normal range. Your lab's printed reference range takes precedence — ranges vary slightly between laboratories.
What Albumin/Globulin tells you
The A/G ratio is calculated by dividing the albumin level by the globulin level, both of which come from the same basic protein panel. Because albumin and globulin often move in opposite directions in certain diseases — for example, albumin falling while globulin rises in chronic liver disease or inflammation — the ratio can highlight a pattern that might be less obvious from either value alone. (Illustration is schematic.)
Common reasons it rises
- Conditions where globulin drops relative to albumin, such as certain immune deficiencies.
- Dehydration, which can concentrate albumin more than globulin in some cases, subtly shifting the ratio.
- Rarely, this pattern is not typically a focus of concern compared to a low ratio, and is usually interpreted alongside the individual albumin and globulin values.
And reasons it runs low
- Chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis — albumin production falls while globulin often rises, lowering the ratio.
- Chronic inflammation or infection — sustained immune activity raises globulin relative to albumin.
- Autoimmune diseases, which often raise antibody-related globulins while albumin may drop.
- Certain blood cancers, such as multiple myeloma, that markedly raise a single globulin type.
Does food or exercise change this?
Check with your doctor first: Anyone with known liver disease, an autoimmune condition, or unexplained weight loss should discuss a low A/G ratio with their doctor rather than trying to change it through diet.
General guidance for adults — not a personal diet plan. Your doctor or dietitian knows your full picture.
Checked against: MedlinePlus: Liver Diseases · American Liver Foundation (ALF) · MedlinePlus: Liver Function Tests
What to do next
Ask your doctor: “Is this low ratio being driven mainly by a falling albumin, a rising globulin, or both?”
Ask your doctor: “Does this pattern, combined with my liver enzymes, suggest chronic liver disease?”
Ask your doctor: “Do I need further testing, like protein electrophoresis, to clarify this result?”
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Questions people ask
Is the A/G ratio a separate test I need to have drawn?
No, it's a calculated value, not a separate blood draw. Labs compute it automatically from the total protein and albumin results already included in a standard liver or metabolic panel, so there's no extra test involved — it simply presents the relationship between albumin and globulin in a single number.
What does a low A/G ratio usually suggest?
A low ratio suggests globulin is relatively high compared to albumin, a pattern seen in chronic liver disease, ongoing inflammation, or certain immune and blood disorders. Because several different conditions can cause this same pattern, doctors typically look at the individual albumin and globulin values, along with other tests, to figure out the specific cause.
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