Creatinine is a waste product that’s created when you digest creatine , an amino acid found in animal foods and made in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Creatinine is also made when your body breaks down muscle tissue — a normal, everyday occurrence. Levels are measured with a blood test at an annual physical and used to assess kidney function.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d7086fd8-188b-4366-bde2-a1c18b69e253 When the kidneys are functioning properly, they filter creatinine from your blood and into your urine to be excreted.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629128c2358-6b9e-40a1-a3f8-dcfb0a6baf24 But if the kidneys aren’t working well, creatinine levels can build up in the blood, explains Radames Zuquello, MD , a nephrologist at South Carolina Nephrology and Hypertension Center in Walterboro, South Carolina. In some cases, high creatinine levels can signal chronic kidney disease or another kidney issue. Here’s how to know if creatinine levels are too high and how high creatinine is typically treated.
What Level of Creatinine Is Too High? Definition Healthy creatinine levels typically fall within these ranges:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629386b70b2-fcca-4998-9b8d-b8463289d2d6 0.7 to 1.3 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL) for men 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women By these standards, creatinine levels above 1.3 mg/dL for men and 1.1 mg/dL for women are considered high. But Dr. Zuquello says it’s not that simple since these standard ranges don’t necessarily apply to everyone. Normal creatinine levels depend on body size, muscle mass, sex, age, and hydration status. “While a creatinine level of 2 mg/dL can translate into a normal kidney function for a highly muscular, tall athlete, the same levels can also signify severe kidney disease in an elderly, frail, bedbound person with low muscle mass,” he says. Similarly, someone who eats lots of meat or fish (both sources of creatine) or takes creatine supplements regularly may have slightly elevated levels of creatinine in the blood due to higher levels of creatine breakdown, which is normal and not an indication of poor kidney function, Zuquello says. Because our bodies naturally make creatine (about 1 to 2 grams daily), there’s no minimum recommended amount to consume daily, even for someone who doesn’t consume foods that contain creatine (like red meat, seafood, and dairy).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d079fed7-3faf-4f27-b440-3b64b64eb6b3
Signs and Symptoms of High Creatinine Symptoms “Abnormal creatinine levels typically reflect an issue with kidney function or muscle mass rather than being standalone symptoms,” says Fakhri Kalolwala, MD , a board-certified internal medicine physician and primary care provider at Aqeeq Internal Medicine in Houston. If high creatinine is caused by chronic kidney disease, symptoms may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291dace7e5-86e1-46a8-a51d-aec29d6ec05e Loss of appetite Fatigue Headache Dry, itchy skin Nausea Unexplained weight loss If high creatinine is caused by kidney failure, symptoms may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295a16ab0d-9275-4862-94dc-c6a06ab33ccc Bloody stools Bad breath or a metallic taste in your mouth Bruising easily Changes in mental status or mood Loss of appetite Numbness, particularly in the hands or feet Fatigue Hand tremor Heart murmur Nausea or vomiting Nosebleeds Persistent hiccups Prolonged bleeding (including nosebleeds) High blood pressure (hypertension) Seizures Shortness of breath Pain between the ribs and hips Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet Little or no urination Excessive urination Consult your primary care provider (PCP) if you experience any of these symptoms, Dr. Kalolwala says. A PCP can refer you to a specialist if necessary. But high creatinine levels don’t often come with noticeable symptoms, so it’s important to schedule primary care screenings and preventive visits regularly so your provider can diagnose underlying health conditions before they become severe, says Kalolwala.
Causes and Risk Factors for High Creatinine Causes These are the main causes of high creatinine levels. Kidney disease, acute kidney injury, or kidney failure High creatinine levels are typically indicative of kidney dysfunction caused by one of these health conditions, Zuquello says. When the kidneys don’t function properly, they aren’t able to filter creatinine out of the bloodstream. A high-protein diet or creatine supplements Creatine is broken down into creatinine. Therefore, high amounts of creatine-rich foods ( protein sources such as meat and fish) or creatine supplements can lead to high levels of blood creatinine, explains Bethany Keith, RDN , a registered dietitian-nutritionist at Renal Care 360° in Atlanta. This isn’t necessarily a problem — there’s no established upper limit (the maximum amount you should consume daily) for protein or creatine in healthy people, and doses of up to 25 grams (g) per day have been used safely in research studies.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa2e4f23-a105-4cab-b93a-5ed0fe6ea8cd That said, people with kidney disease or acute kidney injury may have to limit dietary protein and avoid creatine supplements because their kidneys are unable to clear creatinine effectively. Keith suggests talking to your doctor about how much protein to aim for if you have a kidney condition. High muscle mass Because creatinine results from creatine breakdown during muscle synthesis, people with more muscle mass will naturally have higher creatinine levels in their blood, Zuquello says. “Since high creatinine levels are generally associated with kidney dysfunction, all conditions that cause kidney disease can be considered as risk factors,” Zuquello says. These conditions include, per Zuquello: High blood pressure (hypertension) Heart disease Type 2 diabetes Lupus Prostate disease (such as prostatitis or prostate cancer) Overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen
Diagnosis of High Creatinine Diagnosis Creatinine levels are typically measured with a blood test. A creatinine test is included on a basic metabolic panel, and routine blood work is usually done at your regular physical and any hospital admission.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629295ac611-3595-4e10-a86b-71327ecf8d37 According to standard ranges, high creatinine is diagnosed when blood levels are higher than 1.3 mg/dL for men and 1.1 mg/dL for women. But “normal” creatinine levels vary depending on age, sex, body size, muscle mass, and hydration status, so it’s important to speak with your physician to determine if your blood creatinine levels are too high.
Treatment: What to Do About High Creatinine Treatment “Until proven otherwise, high creatinine levels suggest the presence of kidney disease,” Zuquello says, explaining that high creatinine levels aren’t treated, per se; instead, the underlying kidney disease is treated in the following ways: Avoid further kidney damage by managing or lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629dc7f5987-945f-46ea-a654-58be7608ac3f Stop smoking.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629dc7f5987-945f-46ea-a654-58be7608ac3f Avoid NSAIDs.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299fbc0713-bf47-409d-91c7-3f80af540656 Follow a low-protein diet to limit the creatine and reduce the production of creatinine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298f930a30-7395-478c-b1a7-e142b4fb5e80 Take medications, such as diuretics , which help your body eliminate excess fluid.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298f930a30-7395-478c-b1a7-e142b4fb5e80 Keith says no treatment is necessary if high creatinine levels are caused by eating a high-protein diet or taking creatine supplements, and there’s no evidence of kidney disease.
The Takeaway Creatinine levels are measured with a blood test and used to gauge kidney function. Healthy creatinine levels typically fall within 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women, with higher levels indicating that the kidneys aren’t working properly. On the other hand, a high-protein diet or creatine supplementation can also increase blood creatinine, so it’s best to discuss your creatinine blood test results with your doctor.
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