It also acts as a plasma carrier by non-specifically binding several hydrophobic steroid hormones and as a transport protein for hemin and fatty acids.

Occasionally albumin appears in the urine of normal persons following long periods of standing (postural albuminuria).

[5][6] Albumin is synthesized in the liver as preproalbumin which has an N-terminal peptide that is removed before the nascent protein is released from the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

The glomerular basement membrane is also negatively charged in the body; some studies suggest that this prevents the filtration of albumin in the urine.

The general structure of albumin is characterized by several long α helices allowing it to maintain a relatively static shape, which is essential for regulating blood pressure.