Aldosterone: Understanding Your Adrenal Hormone Test

What Is Aldosterone?

Aldosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the outer layer (zona glomerulosa) of the adrenal glands, which sit atop each kidney. As a member of the mineralocorticoid family, aldosterone plays a central role in regulating blood pressure and the balance of sodium and potassium in your body.

When aldosterone is released, it signals the kidneys to retain sodium and water while excreting potassium. Because sodium retention pulls water along with it, aldosterone effectively influences blood volume and, by extension, blood pressure. Aldosterone production is controlled largely by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), as well as by potassium levels in the blood. Understanding this hormone can offer insight into several aspects of cardiovascular and metabolic health.

What the Test Measures

An aldosterone test measures the concentration of aldosterone in your blood (serum) or, in some cases, in a 24-hour urine collection. Because aldosterone works closely with the enzyme renin, your clinician often orders aldosterone alongside a plasma renin activity or renin concentration test. The ratio of these two values—the aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR)—can help distinguish between different causes of abnormal results.

Aldosterone levels naturally vary with body position, time of day, sodium intake, and certain medications. For this reason, testing is typically standardized to specific conditions to make the results meaningful.

Aldosterone Reference Ranges

Reference ranges can vary by laboratory and by the conditions under which the sample was collected (for example, upright versus supine, or sodium intake). The values below represent commonly cited standard ranges for serum aldosterone. Always interpret your results using the range provided by the testing laboratory.

These figures are general references. Children, pregnant individuals, and those on certain medications may have different expected values.

What High Levels Can Mean

Elevated aldosterone, sometimes called hyperaldosteronism, can have a variety of underlying causes. Your clinician evaluates high results in the context of your renin level, blood pressure, and electrolytes.

Possible causes of high aldosterone

• Primary aldosteronism (Conn syndrome): Overproduction of aldosterone by the adrenal glands, often due to a benign adrenal nodule or generalized adrenal overactivity. This is a recognized and often under-diagnosed cause of high blood pressure.
• Secondary aldosteronism: Conditions that activate the renin-angiotensin system, such as heart failure, cirrhosis, kidney artery narrowing, or dehydration.
• Low sodium intake or fluid loss that prompts the body to conserve sodium.

High aldosterone may be associated with hard-to-control high blood pressure and low potassium, which can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, or excessive urination. These findings require professional interpretation to identify the root cause.

What Low Levels Can Mean

Lower-than-expected aldosterone can also point to several possibilities, which again must be considered alongside renin and electrolyte values.

Possible causes of low aldosterone

• Adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease): Reduced overall adrenal hormone production.
• Hypoaldosteronism: A specific deficiency in mineralocorticoid production, sometimes related to kidney conditions or diabetes.
• High sodium intake, which can naturally suppress aldosterone.
• Certain medications, including some blood pressure drugs and anti-inflammatory agents.

Low aldosterone may be linked to elevated potassium, low blood pressure, salt cravings, or lightheadedness when standing. As with high levels, these symptoms and lab patterns need to be interpreted by your clinician.

How the Test Is Done

The aldosterone test usually involves a simple blood draw from a vein in your arm. Because aldosterone levels shift with body position and other factors, your clinician may give you specific instructions to improve accuracy, which can include:

• Maintaining a normal sodium diet for a set period before testing, unless told otherwise.
• Avoiding licorice and certain supplements that can affect results.
• Pausing or adjusting specific medications under your clinician’s guidance—never stop a prescribed medication on your own.
• Resting in a seated or lying position for a defined time before the draw, since posture influences the result.

A 24-hour urine collection may be requested in some cases to capture aldosterone output over a full day. Your clinician will explain the preparation that applies to your situation.

Putting Your Number in Context

A single aldosterone value rarely tells the whole story. This hormone is best understood in relationship to renin, your blood pressure, your sodium and potassium levels, and your overall clinical picture. The aldosterone-to-renin ratio, for example, often provides more useful insight than aldosterone alone.

At ENNU Life, we look beyond simply asking whether a result falls inside a broad laboratory range. Our approach emphasizes optimal ranges—where your physiology may function best—and we pay close attention to trends over time rather than isolated snapshots. Tracking how your aldosterone and related markers change across repeated tests can help reveal patterns that a one-time result might miss.

We also favor a root-cause perspective. Rather than treating a number in isolation, our goal is to understand why a value may be high or low and how it connects to your broader hormonal, metabolic, and cardiovascular health. Aldosterone is one piece of a larger puzzle, and meaningful interpretation always requires professional evaluation tailored to you.

If your aldosterone result falls outside the expected range, it does not automatically indicate a serious condition. Many factors—diet, hydration, posture, and medications—can shift the value temporarily. Work with your clinician to determine whether further testing or follow-up is appropriate for your individual circumstances.