What is Creatinine?

Muscles naturally break down and rebuild themselves. During the breakdown processes, the waste product creatinine is produced. 

Healthy Kidney Function and Creatinine

A healthy kidney filters creatinine from the blood without absorbing much, or any, of it. That’s because this waste product is not useful.

Kidneys and Creatinine

Creatinine is a great marker of kidney function! It is constantly produced and the kidneys continually remove it. If, however, the kidneys aren’t properly functioning properly little to no creatinine will be found in the urine. The majority will be in the blood. 

Why This Matters 

Kidney function is vital to human existence. Specifically, because they filter toxins from the blood. Creatinine is one of these toxins! This protects the body from the harmful consequences of wastes floating around. They also regulate blood pressure, by controlling water and sodium levels. Additionally, the kidneys ensure the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals are in the blood. (1)

If you or your doctor suspect you have kidney problems, they will use one or both of the following tests. 

Creatinine Clearance 

This test determines exactly how much creatinine your body filters from the blood. How? The patient collects all their urine for 24 hours. The healthcare professional than measures it. If the levels are below normal, there may be an issue with the kidneys. Healthy levels depend upon age, gender, and body size. (2)

eGFR

eGFR, or estimated glomerular filtration rate, helps determine kidney function. The doctor measures blood creatinine levels and factors in age, weight, sex, and underlying conditions. If levels are high, there may be a problem with the kidneys.

In Conclusion 

Creatinine is an important indicator of kidney health. Consider speaking with your healthcare practitioner about your levels; especially if you have high blood pressure or high blood sugar levels, or are overweight.