Creatinine is a waste product which is produced in the human blood and is expelled out of the body with the urine after being filtered by the kidneys. It is a by-product produced by regular muscle action.
The higher number of muscles an individual has, the higher will be the levels of creatinine produced. The level of creatinine in an individual’s blood accounts for the number of muscles he/she possesses and how their kidneys function.
Creatine is simply a compound that supplies energy to the muscles of a human body. It is also produced by a human body naturally and is also found in numerous food products, primarily fresh meat. Liver, kidneys and pancreas produce creatine in our body, and it is then carried away by the bloodstreams to the muscles. After reaching the muscles, it is then converted into creatine phosphate known as phosphocreatine. It helps to regenerate the ultimate energy source of muscles.
According to the research, creatines help to increase muscle strength and lean muscle mass. Despite being produced naturally in our bodies, half of the creatine in our bodies comes from the food items we eat.
The primary source of creatine is fresh meat. Pork, tuna, beef, and salmon are incredibly rich in creatine, and every pound of meat contains 2 grams of creatine. Herring is a special kind of meat, and 3-4 grams of creatine is found in every pound of meat. Vegetarians can also find creatine in cranberries.
What are Creatinine Levels?
For men, if your kidney is functioning just correctly, then your creatinine levels will be somewhere in between 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams/deciliters (mg/dL). For women, the levels lie somewhere in between 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL of creatinine. In general, women have lower creatinine levels as compared to men because men tend to have a higher number of muscles as compared to women.
Creatinine level charts
A well functioning kidney can help you to maintain just the right creatinine levels. In any case, if kidneys become insufficient, the creatinine levels in the blood tend to increase owing to the inadequate clearance of creatinine from the kidney. An abnormal level of creatinine indicates some malfunction in the kidneys, which might even cause the failure of both the kidneys. Owing to this very reason, it is quite essential to get your creatinine levels checked regularly.
A proper measure of the functioning of the kidney can be easily calculated by estimating the amount of creatinine which is cleared from the kidneys. It is also referred to as the creatinine clearance, and it shows the amount of creatinine cleared from the blood. It is also known as the glomerular filtration rate, or GFR).
There are two ways in which you can measure the creatinine clearance levels
Process 1: With the help of a formula which involves the blood creatinine levels and the age and weight of the patients, the creatinine clearance levels can be estimated. The formula is:
{(140-the patient’s age in years) x their weight in kilograms}/ (72 x serum creatinine level in mg/dL)
Process 2: In the second method, you need to collect a 24-hour urine sample and a freshly drawn blood sample. Compare both the samples in terms of the creatinine levels present in both. The creatinine levels in the normal human body for men are 97 to 137 mL/min. and 88-128 mL/min. for women.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is yet another method used to determine kidney functionality. It is an alternative to measuring the creatinine levels. The BUN-to-creatinine ratio generally provides more precise information about kidney function and its possible underlying cause compared with creatinine level alone.
When to worry about Creatinine Levels?
The increase in the creatinine levels can be caused due to numerous factors. If the increase is caused due to the malfunctioning of the kidneys, then it is surely a reason to worry about. Kidney issues often trigger bladder and fluid retention disorders.
Some of the symptoms which indicate that the increase in creatinine levels are:
- Nausea
- Chest Pain
- Itchiness
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Muscle Cramps
- High blood pressure
- Changes in urination frequency and appearance
- Swelling or fluid retention
How to lower creatinine levels?
As discussed above, the creatinine levels can rise owing to numerous facts. Follow the following points to lower your creatinine levels.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle like do some sorts of yoga exercises daily
- Maintain a proper diet plan
- Do mild exercises
- Avoid the consumption of creatine supplements.
- Discuss any medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter medicine.
How to Increase Creatinine Levels?
Increase in creatinine levels directly translates to the increase in the muscle mass. Hence, people who wish to increase their muscle mass need to at first boost their creatinine levels. In order to increase the creatinine levels, they need to include food items like meat, fish etc. in their diet. Also, there are several creatinine boosting agents available in the market which when consumed daily will yield positive results. Both women and men can take these supplements to boost the creatinine levels in their body.
As per research, if 3gms of creatine is consumed daily in the form of a either pill or some powder, it will yield positive results and boost the creatinine levels in the body of the individual.
