What Is Creatinine: What Are The Normal Values ​​And What happens If It Is High Or Low

Creatinine is a chemical compound that results from energy production processes in the muscles.

“Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in cells to convert food into energy. This is where creatine is produced, a chemical substance that reaches the muscles through the blood and provides them with fuel, or energy, to work. When this breaks down, it forms creatinine, a waste product that is expelled in the form of urine,” explains Carlos De León, an internist.

The body produces a constant amount of creatinine, which depends on the person’s muscle mass. When there is a constant percentage of muscle mass, but there are high levels of this chemical compound in the blood, it could be a symptom of a kidney problem.

“There is a range that is taken into account to determine whether the amount of creatinine in the blood is normal or positive. However, this will vary depending on the age, sex, and lifestyle of each person,” says Ana Solís, general practitioner. Normal values ​​are:

• In men: 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dl.
• In women: 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dl.
• In children: 0.2 to 1 mg/dl.

What happens if creatinine is high or low?

When the kidneys do not absorb creatinine and excrete it in urine, it builds up in the blood. This could have several causes, including the use of drugs or dietary supplements that affect kidney function, excessive exercise, urinary tract obstruction, dehydration, muscle diseases such as rhabdomyolysis, or a kidney problem such as infection or kidney failure.

Dr. De León says that treatment will depend on the cause, but in addition to the medications prescribed, it is recommended to drink enough water, improve your diet, do moderate exercise, and regulate blood pressure.

Although it is more common to have high creatinine levels, some people may have low levels when there is a decrease in muscle mass due to a disease such as muscular dystrophy or due to age, as well as when pregnant. In the latter case, it is not a symptom of any disease.

Symptoms of high creatinine

The creatinine level in the blood shows whether the kidneys are functioning properly, so when this figure is high, it could mean that there is a kidney problem.

Before having a blood test, there are some symptoms that could alert you when you have elevated creatine: different color in the urine, pain when urinating, the appearance of foam in the urine, increased urge to go to the bathroom, unexplained weight loss, decreased appetite, swelling in hands and feet, itchy skin, headache, and fatigue.

Specialists emphasize that it is more common to have high creatinine than low creatinine. However, it is possible that levels are below normal and symptoms such as muscle weakness and tissue loss occur.