Creatinine value: what does it say about your health and kidney function? Find out with a simple blood test

- Creatinine is an important indicator of your kidney function and kidney health.
- An elevated creatinine level does not always mean that your kidneys are malfunctioning, especially with creatine use.
- With creatine use, Cystatin C is a more reliable kidney marker than creatinine
- Blood test kreatinine is included as standard in many checkups from Bloedwaardentest.nl
- Self-testing is easy, quick and without referral

Creatinine (also spelled ascreatinine) is a waste substance in your blood that says a lot aboutkidney function. But what is anormalkreatinine valueandWhat does it mean if yourkreatinine valueincreasedis? Yet many people don't know exactly what an elevated or decreased value means and especially if you are creatine supplements uses.InThis blog explains whatkreatinineIs,how kidney health worksandWhat you really need to test. 

What iskreatinineactually? Meaningand function

Creatinine is created as a breakdown product of creatine, a substance your muscles use for energy. The more muscle mass you have, the higher your kreatinine is usually. Your kidneys filter creatinine from your blood and dispose of it through your urine. The amount of kreatinine in your blood is therefore an important indicator of your kidney function.

Take care when using creatine supplements

Do you use the supplement creatine monohydrate, for example for strength training or muscle building? Then your creatinine levels may be artificially elevated, without there being anything wrong with your kidneys.

Important: Creatinine becomes less reliable as a marker of your kidney function when using creatine.

So what would be better to do?
In addition to creatinine, have your Cystatin C measured. This protein is a much more reliable kidney marker and is not affected by muscle mass or creatine use.

Creatinine is standard in many checkups

At Bloedwaardentest.nl, creatinine is automatically included in many comprehensive blood tests, such as:

• Major health check-up
• Sports check-up
• Lifestyle profile with consultation
• Kidney function profile

This gives you automatic insight into your kidney health, often in conjunction with your eGFR, urea, sodium, potassium and more.

Kreatininenormalvalue: What is normal for you?

Average applies:

• Men: 60 - 110 µmol/L
• Women: 50 - 95 µmol/L
• Children and the elderly: often lower
• Fanatical athletes: often slightly higher

An elevated value does not have to mean anything serious right away, but it is a reason to take a good look at your kidneys.

Causes ofa increasedkreatininevalue

• Kidney problems or damage
• Use of creatine or protein supplements
• Dehydration or infections
• Medication (such as NSAIDs, antibiotics)
• Intensive strength training (temporary effect)

Test your kreatinine or kidney function yourself? You can do it at home

At Bloedwaardentest.nl you can easily get your creatinine tested via finger prick or on-site blood sampling, without a referral.

Frequently AskedQuestionsAboutkreatininevalueandkidney function

What is the difference between creatine and creatinine?
Creatine is a supplement or muscle substance; kreatinine is its breakdown product that is excreted through your kidneys.

Can creatine increase my kreatinine?
Yes. This sometimes makes it seem like your kidneys are working worse, when they are not.

What is the solution?
Get your Cystatin C determined for a reliable assessment of your kidney function.

What is the difference between creatinine and creatine kinase (CK)?

Although the names are similar, creatinine and creatine kinase (CK) are completely different substances that say something completely different about your health:

An elevated creatinine value may indicate impaired renal function.
An elevated CK value may indicate:

• Intense sports or strength training
• Muscle injuries or muscle diseases
• Heart muscle problems (e.g., heart attack)
• Drug side effects (such as statins)

Important: If you exercise a lot or use creatine, for example, both CK and kreatinine may be temporarily elevated - without anything really wrong.

You can test both through Bloodtesting.nl.co.uk:

• Creatinine test
• CK test (Creatine Kinase)