What do low creatinine levels mean

When a blood sample is taken, a small bruise may form at the site. These tests give information about how well your kidneys are working. The creatinine clearance value is found from the amounts of creatinine in the urine and blood and from the amount of urine you pass in 24 hours.

This value is the amount of blood cleared of creatinine per minute, based on your body size. Each lab has a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should show the range that your lab uses for each test.

The normal range is just a guide. Your doctor will also look at your results based on your age, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you. Rhoads MD - Internal Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance. Top of the page. Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance. Test Overview Creatinine and creatinine clearance tests measure the level of the waste product creatinine say "kree-AT-uh-neen" in your blood and urine.

Three types of tests can be done. Blood creatinine level The blood creatinine level shows how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine clearance A creatinine clearance test measures how well creatinine is removed from your blood by your kidneys.

Blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio This test measures the amount of urea in your blood. To find out if your kidney disease is changing. To see how well the kidneys work in people who take medicines that can cause kidney damage. To check for severe dehydration. Dehydration generally causes BUN levels to rise more than creatinine levels.

This causes a high BUN-to-creatinine ratio. Kidney disease or blocked urine flow from your kidney causes both BUN and creatinine levels to rise. How To Prepare You may be asked to: Not do any strenuous exercise for 2 days 48 hours before having the tests. Not eat more than 8 ounces of meat, especially beef, or other protein for 24 hours before the blood creatinine test and during the creatinine clearance urine test.

Drink plenty of fluids if you are asked to collect your urine for 24 hours. But don't drink coffee or tea. This correlation is significant for both adult men and women [ 17 ]. Supplementing with creatine increases creatinine levels in the blood [ 18 , 15 ]. Hypothyroidism decreases kidney function and blood flow to the kidneys, which results in elevated creatinine levels [ 19 ].

Levels can normalize rapidly with thyroid hormone replacement after short periods of hypothyroidism, but may normalize slower after more prolonged periods of severe hypothyroidism [ 20 ]. A blocked urinary tract can cause kidney injury, which increases creatinine in the blood [ 21 , 22 ]. There is a bidirectional relationship between kidney disease and heart disease, where each condition increases the risk of the other.

In heart failure, blood flow to the kidneys is reduced, which decreases creatinine filtration and increases creatinine levels in the blood [ 23 , 24 ]. Please discuss your medications with your healthcare provider. They will assess your test results taking into account your medications and other relevant factors to determine whether a result outside of the reference range means something for you.

Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you notice medication side effects such as tiredness , dry or itchy skin, blood in your urine, or anything else out of the ordinary. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. In Canada, you may report side effects to Health Canada at With this in mind, the following medications may increase creatinine levels in some people:. If you have kidney disease, your doctor may prescribe medication to manage your symptoms. Some drugs used in kidney disease patients include water pills diuretics , medications for lowering high blood pressure, erythropoietin , and others.

Dialysis is a common treatment for people with kidney disease. If you have kidney issues, you may need to limit your protein intake. Similarly, if your kidneys are not working properly, your blood phosphorus and potassium may increase, in which case you may need to limit their intake. Discuss an appropriate diet to protect your kidney health with your doctor [ 35 , 36 ]. Discuss the additional strategies listed below with your doctor. None of these should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes!

High blood creatinine can be a result of dehydration. A study of overweight or obese men suggests that weight loss can improve kidney health and decrease creatinine levels [ 41 ]. A fiber-rich diet improves kidney health and can lower blood creatinine levels [ 42 ]. Low blood creatinine levels are not always a concern. They can just indicate a diet low in protein [ 43 ]. Your doctor will interpret your results, taking into account your medical history, symptoms, and other test results.

Causes listed below are commonly associated with low blood creatinine. Malnutrition, and specifically lack of protein, decrease muscle mass, which decreases blood creatinine levels [ 44 ]. Extreme weight loss has a similar effect. Loss of muscle mass means that less creatinine is released from muscles into the blood [ 41 , 45 ].

Muscle wasting in illness or aging is commonly associated with lower creatinine levels [ 11 , 43 , 46 ]. Often patients lose a great part of their muscle mass within the first week of hospitalization which results in lower levels of blood creatinine [ 47 ].

If those who also suffer from kidney disease which would increase the levels of creatinine , the levels of creatinine might be falsely within the normal range. Thus, muscle wasting can be a factor that interferes with the proper diagnosis of kidney failure [ 48 ]. If you have a muscular disease, treatment focuses on treating the related condition and reducing muscle pain, weakness, and degeneration.

Options include corticosteroids to improve your muscle strength or therapy to improve your quality of life. But your doctor may recommend steps to increase your muscle mass and normalize your creatinine level. Increasing your level of physical activity and doing strength training exercises a few days a week can increase muscle mass.

Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program. You can try:. If your doctor believes low muscle mass results from improper nutrition or extreme weight loss, adjust your diet.

Include a mixture of fruits and vegetables as well as protein-rich foods. Learn more: How protein before bed can promote muscle growth ». The outlook is generally positive for people who have low creatinine levels, as long as they receive necessary treatment for any underlying medical condition.

If further testing rules out a muscle disease, your doctor may suggest lifestyle and diet changes and then retest your level at a later time. With the proper adjustments, your levels should normalize. Creatinine is a blood chemical waste product made when you use muscles. Learn about home remedies to naturally lower your creatinine levels. Having a high creatinine can indicate a number of conditions, from the fairly minor to the very serious.

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