There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
From the Research
Possible Causes of Hypoproteinemia
- Hypoproteinemia can be caused by various factors, including protein-losing enteropathy, nephrotic syndrome, and malnutrition 1, 2, 3.
- Protein-losing enteropathy is a condition where the gastrointestinal tract loses protein, leading to hypoproteinemia, and can be a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or the ketogenic diet 1, 3.
- Nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder, can also cause hypoproteinemia due to excessive loss of protein in the urine 2.
Demographic Factors
- Age and gender can affect serum total protein levels, with levels decreasing with age in both males and females 4.
- However, the study on serum total protein levels in elderly Chinese individuals may not be directly applicable to a 24-year-old female 4.
Other Potential Causes
- Traumatic spinal cord injury can also lead to hypoproteinemia, with risk factors including male/female sex, age ≥ 60 years, cervical SCI, pneumonia, pleural effusion, urinary tract infection, hyponatremia, fever, hypotension, and tracheostomy 5.
- However, this study may not be directly relevant to a 24-year-old female without a history of spinal cord injury 5.