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BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) measures the concentration of urea — a protein breakdown product — in your blood, which healthy kidneys continuously filter out and excrete in urine. Elevated BUN can point to kidney dysfunction, dehydration, high protein intake, or gastrointestinal bleeding; low BUN can indicate malnutrition or liver disease. The BUN-to-creatinine ratio is clinically useful: a high ratio suggests dehydration or bleeding, while a low ratio with elevated BUN points to intrinsic kidney disease.
Also known as: Blood Urea Nitrogen, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), BUN, Serum Urea, Urea, Urea (B), Urea (Blood), Urea Nitrogen
High BUN results from kidney dysfunction, dehydration, high-protein diets, or GI bleeding. Low BUN suggests inadequate protein intake or severe liver disease.
Standard range is 7-20 mg/dL. Functional practitioners target 10-16 mg/dL. BUN below 10 in active individuals often indicates insufficient protein intake.