Aldosterone: Function and Impact of Level of Aldosterone

Aldosterone is a hormone that is responsible for blood pressure regulation in the body. It helps in managing the level of sodium and potassium in the blood in order to regulate the blood pressure. 

• Very high or too low levels of this hormone in the body can lead to serious health issues.
• Low level of aldosterone (ALD) can cause metabolic acidosis.
• High levels of ALD can cause high blood pressure.

Key terms: Aldosterone, Blood pressure, Hypoaldestronism, Hyperaldestronism, Hormones.

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What is Aldosterone?

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Human body functions with the help of many hormones and aldosterone is one among those important hormones. Aldosterone (ALD) helps in regulating blood pressure. ALD balances the sodium and potassium levels in blood that impacts the blood volume and pressure too.

• Aldosterone is released by the adrenal gland.
• It also helps in controlling the amount of water the kidney absorbs.
• Amount of fluids in the body are balanced by the electrolytes (minerals) such as sodium and potassium.
• They also keep the nerves and muscles in a proper functioning manner.
• Collectively, electrolytes and aldosterone will regulate the blood volume and pressure in the human body.
• The level of ALD hormone has a huge impact on normal functioning of the body.

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Function of Aldosterone

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Primary function of ALD is regulating blood pressure and that is achieved by following ways.

• Hormone ALD sends signals to the kidney and colon to increase the amount of sodium and potassium in the bloodstream and in urine, respectively.
• Increase in sodium causes the body to retain water in blood. This helps in increasing the blood volume as well as pressure.

Mechanism of Action of Aldosterone

Aldosterone triggers the absorption of sodium and excretion of potassium into the lumen. To maintain blood pressure at normal range, there are some receptors that work simultaneously with ALD.

• Baroreceptors sense the increased volume and pressure of blood.
• In order to maintain homeostasis, these receptors detect the low level of blood pressure and volume as well.
• Subsequently, the organ releases the more ALD.

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Normal Aldosterone Level

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Normal level of aldosterone or any hormone in the human body varies among the age groups. It is very important to make sure that the normal range of hormones is maintained according to the age of an individual.

Range of ALD levels for different age groups is tabulated below.

Hormone level or the amount of hormone in body is messured in unit of nanogram/ deciliter (ng/dL).

How to Confirm ALD Level?

To determine the level of ALD in human body, a test using blood sample from vein can be done.

Healthcare professionals suggest to test blood sample for the determination of ALD as well as renine.

• Renine is another enzyme in human body which is related to the ALD
• The ration of ALD and renine can help to predect that which hormone is functioning properly and at what amount.
• It helps knowing whether issue is in ALD production and function or also in renin-angiotensin system.
• For the separate tests of theses two hormons, blood sample may be collected from two different sites.
• For example, for ALD test, blood is collected from adrenal veins and for renine, it is collcted from renal veins.

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Problems Due to Low ALdosterone

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Deficiency in aldosterone hormone or impaired fucntion of hormone hamper the blood pressure and volume regulation. Lower than normal range of hormone causes malfunction of normal homeostasis which leads to;

• Low sodium levels (Hyponatremia)
• Higher potassium level (Hyperkalemia)
• Production of too much acid (Metabolic acidosis)

Lower ALD condition is also called as Hypoaldosteronism.

Causes of Aldosteronism

Several health conditions interfere with the organ and glands that are involved in ALD production. Also medications that treat heart failure like condition may hinder the ALD level.

• Addision’s disease- Primary adrenal insuffiecency. It is an autoimmune disease where cortex of adrenal gland is damaged and fails to produce ALD and cortisol hormone.
• Diabetes, Lead poisioning or kidney problems also affect the ALD production and function.
• Some medicines like Heparin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs etc can lead to hypoaldosteronism.

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Problems Due to High Aldosterone

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Higher ALD or hyperaldosteronism can caused in case where adrenal gland is overproducing the hormone.

• Hyperaldosteronism results in hyper sodium (Hypernatremia) and lower potassium (Hypokalemia) level. 
• Such condition causes imbalance of electrolytes in body.

Causes of Hyperaldosteronism

Hyperaldosteronism may happen if any tumor (noncancerous) is there on the gland. Due the tumor, gland starts producing more than normal amount of hormone that directly interfere with the functioning of ALD.

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Sympotoms of Abnormal Aldosterone Level

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Higher level of ALD can be recognized if a person is having any of the following symptoms

1. High blood pressure (Hypertension)
2. Headache
3. Potassium deficiency will cause muscles weakness
4. Frequent urination
5. Frequent and extreme thirst

Lower ALD will make a person feel uneasiness and several other serious symptoms like;

1. Nausea
2. Weakness
3. Irregular heartbeat

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Things to Remember

• Aldosterone is a hormone produced by adrenal gland.
• This hormone has a major role in regulating blood pressure and volume.
• The hormone balances the elctrolyte like sodium and potassium which helps in increasing blood volume and pressure.
• If hormone is produced in higher amount, it will increase the blood pressure which can be sensed by baroreceptors.
• If production of hormone is lower than normal range then baroreceptor will pass the signal for more producttion.
• If there is any malfunctioning of gland or receptors, production of ALD will be hampered and result in hypo or hyperaldosteronism.
• Hypoaldosteronism will cause hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis.
• Hyperaldosterone will cause hypernatremia, hypokalemia and high blood pressure.