Why creatinine levels increase

Abnormal creatinine levels may be a sign of kidney disease. Your doctor may likewise recommend regular creatinine testing if you have any of the following conditions, which may contribute to decreased kidney function:. Creatinine levels can also rise temporarily from strenuous exercise or using certain medications like sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, or chemotherapy drugs.

Your body needs to clean your blood to function optimally. The best way to lower your creatinine levels is to treat the underlying cause. Along with your medicines and other treatments, ask your healthcare provider whether the following lifestyle changes are appropriate for you. Creatine is a natural compound made in your liver.

In addition to its natural form, creatine is available as an oral supplement. Some athletes use these creatinine-producing supplements to help enhance athletic performance. Anyone wishing to reduce their creatinine levels to improve their kidney function should not take creatine supplements. Research shows that eating large amounts of protein can increase creatinine levels , at least temporarily.

In particular, cooked red meat can affect creatinine. The heat from cooking causes the creatine found in meat to produce creatinine.

People following diets very high in red meat or other protein sources, including dairy products, may have higher creatinine levels than people who eat fewer of those foods.

If you eat lots of red meat, switch to more vegetable-based dishes. Try swapping out beef burgers for:. Nevertheless, one study showed significant reductions in creatinine levels in people with chronic kidney disease who increased their fiber intake.

Fiber can be found in many foods , including:. Dehydration can raise creatinine levels. Fluid intake can also be an issue for some people who have kidney disease. Talk with your healthcare provider about how much water and other fluids you should drink daily , as well as the best time to drink them. Diets that include excess salt can contribute to high blood pressure. Processed foods, in particular, are often loaded with sodium and phosphorus, which studies have shown potentially cause renal issues.

Consider focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, and using spices and herbs to flavor your food when possible. Creatinine is a waste product of the muscles. In a healthy body, the kidneys filter creatinine from the blood and excrete it through the urine. High levels of creatinine can indicate kidney issues. In this article, we explore what creatinine is and what can cause high levels.

We also look at symptoms of high creatinine, when to worry about creatinine levels, and the treatment options. Creatinine is a byproduct of normal muscle function.

It is a metabolite of creatine phosphate, which the muscles use as an energy source. For this reason, males tend to have higher creatinine levels than females. The primary way in which the body removes creatinine from the blood is by filtration through the kidneys and then excretion in the urine. The creatinine levels that experts consider to be normal may vary among different hospitals and laboratories.

Doctors take a blood sample to test creatinine levels. They then use a formula to estimate creatinine clearance. In some cases, they may also request that the individual collects all of their urine over 24 hours and brings it to the laboratory. The doctor can then compare the urinary creatinine level with that of the blood. These results show how much creatinine the kidneys are filtering out of the body and how well they are functioning.

High creatinine levels usually indicate that the kidneys are not working as they should. Possible causes of this dysfunction include:. Outside of kidney function, several other factors can temporarily raise creatinine levels above normal.

These include dehydration and consuming large amounts of protein — either through food sources or nutritional supplements. High intensity exercise can also increase certain blood biomarkers, including creatinine. A person undergoing a creatinine test should let the doctor know if they are taking any medications, fasting, or adhering to a protein-rich diet.

Certain medicines can cause a temporary increase in serum creatinine levels or damage the kidneys. Some health conditions can also damage these organs, leading to increased creatinine levels. These conditions include:. Antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, and some other medications can cause kidney damage and affect how well the kidneys function.

An untreated kidney infection can damage the kidneys, and, in extreme cases, it can even cause kidney failure. In people with diabetes , blood sugar levels can become too high, leading to health problems, including kidney disease.

The most common test methods are via blood and urine. Creatinine that comes from your blood is called serum creatinine, and it can be measured by administering a routine blood test. Graber explains. The other most common way to test creatinine levels is through a hour urine collection. Why 24 hours? Exercise, diet, and hydration can all affect creatinine, so your levels could fluctuate throughout the day. Therefore, your healthcare provider will need multiple urine samples to evaluate your creatinine clearance effectively.

As you might imagine, this test involves collecting all of your urine over 24 hours, then delivering it to your healthcare provider.

Based on the results, your healthcare provider can determine how well your kidneys are filtering creatinine into the urinary tract.

Healthcare providers will order both tests to get a comprehensive look at your kidney function by comparing your estimated GFR eGFR with the amount of urine creatinine present. If your doctor suspects kidney disease or damage, he or she may also order a blood urea nitrogen BUN test to confirm their diagnosis. This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen—another type of waste filtered by the kidneys—in a blood sample. So, you went to the doctor, did the tests, and the results are in: You have high creatinine levels.

Now what? Anything outside the normal range 0. Numerous factors can influence your test results. Here are just a few:. It could be the result of low muscle mass or a muscle disease like muscular dystrophy , pregnancy, a low-protein diet, or certain liver conditions.

Creatinine levels can change rapidly, even throughout the day, which is why healthcare providers monitor them for an extended period of time.

One blood test that returns high creatinine in blood could be a fluke. However, several tests in a row that show elevated levels could indicate chronic kidney disease.