What is creatinine?
Creatinine is an amino acid derivative, but not a complete protein. It is naturally found in muscle cells. Creatine is a source of energy used for muscle contraction. Small amounts of creatine are also found in muscles of the heart, brain, and other tissues. Creatine is also found in foods such as milk and milk products, red meat, and seafood etc.
Creatinine is a chemical compound formed from creatine metabolism. It is removed/ cleared from blood plasma by glomeruli and is excreted in the urine. In short, we can understand that creatinine is a waste product that is released from the normal wear and tear of muscles in the body.
What is the normal level of creatinine?
Everyone has creatinine in their bloodstream. Generally, higher creatinine levels are an indicator of adverse health risks. The level of creatinine depends on various factors- age, race, gender, and body size.
Kidneys maintain the level of blood components. These are the vital organs that maintain the serum creatinine levels in the body too.
Normal Urine creatinine levels are:
- Women: 87 to 107 mL/min
- Men: 107 to 139 mL/min
Serum creatinine levels (Creatinine levels in blood) are:
- Children: 0.3 to 0.7 mg/dL
- Teenagers: 0.5 to 1.0 mg/dL
- Women: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL
- Men: 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL
What are the reasons for high creatinine levels in your body?
There are various reasons for high Creatinine levels in blood. It can be due to higher intake of protein, intense exercise, etc. Other factors that can raise levels include:
- Certain medications like antibiotics, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Creatine supplements
- Strenuous exercise
- Decreased kidney blood flow
- Dehydration
- Stress or Shock
- Infections – Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Syphilis etc.
- Diseases such as Diabetes, Tumors, Cancer, lupus etc.
It is also found in the blood of a person having kidney problems. If any of the above-mentioned facts are not found as the causative factor for high creatinine levels, it is generally believed that kidneys are not functioning properly.
Doctors often use creatinine levels as an indicator for the functioning of kidneys. Having high levels of creatinine is not life threatening, but in case of chronic kidney disease, it may indicate a serious health issue.
Serum or urine creatinine levels are not used as a single test for checking your kidney function status. It is always beneficial to use in conjunction with GFR (Glomerular Filtration rate) to assess how well your kidneys are functioning.
If a person has high creatinine levels because of kidney disorder, a doctor will recommend some treatment. Diet and lifestyle changes can also be of help.
In this article, learn more about what can be done with high levels of creatinine and find some tips to take it back to normal.
What are the possible home remedies to reduce the raised creatinine levels?
Although it is always advised to consult a physician for any kidney related disorder, there are also some home remedies that are also found effective and helpful in bringing back the raised creatinine levels near to normal. It is possible to reduce the raised creatinine levels by adapting some of the following home remedies:
Reducing protein intake
Non-vegetarian food is usually muscle. These muscles naturally contain creatine, and cooking breaks the creatine into creatinine. Eating cooked red meat may increase the levels of creatinine. It is always advised to incorporate more vegetable proteins to your diet.
It is always advised to replace the meat in your meals with vegetables e.g.
| Food Items to be Avoided | Replace with |
| Meat slices/ Non-veg patties | Vegetable Patties |
| Non-veg Soups and Stews | Vegetable soups and Stews |
| Lentil Soups |
Reduce the intake of creatine supplements
Creatine is a natural compound made in your liver as a source of energy. It’s transported from the liver to the muscles. When creatine is used as a source of energy, it’s degraded into creatinine. Thus we can say that creatinine is a metabolic byproduct of creatine.
Creatine has been used by athletes as a supplement to help in their athletic performance. It has been used worldwide as an oral supplement. As a consequence, its metabolic byproduct, creatinine, is found at high levels in athletes consuming it. Anyone wishing to reduce their creatinine levels to improve kidney function should not take creatine supplements.
Increase the intake of Dietary Fibers
Dietary fibers can provide a wide range of health benefits. It is always advised to keep your gut healthy, and dietary fiber plays a key role in keeping your gut healthy. It also helps to manage creatinine levels.
A few studies have indicated the role of dietary fiber in lowering creatinine levels in people suffering from chronic kidney diseases. More research is needed to confirm the part of dietary fiber’s on creatinine levels. But, it is always advised to include fruits, vegetables, seeds, and whole grains that are rich sources of fiber in your diet.
best ayurvedic treatment to reduce high creatinine level
Fiber can be found in:
- fruits
- vegetables
- whole grains
- legumes
It must be taken into consideration that when your kidneys are not functioning well, your potassium levels can rise high. This can be serious. So it is advised that fruits and vegetables rich in potassium should be avoided. You are thus asked to
| Reduce | Add |
| Leafy vegetables | Cucumbers |
| Broccoli | Carrots |
| Bananas | Lettuce |
| Potatoes | Apples |
| Oranges | Cranberries |
| Apricots etc. | Guava etc. |
Similarly, you are asked to consider the foods in relation to the level of phosphorus and sodium.
Make sure that excess fiber in your diet can create constipation, so it should be balanced with proper intake of water.
Avoiding dehydration
Creatinine levels can rise in a person with dehydration. Severe dehydration can put a strain on the cardiovascular and other organ systems.
Although drinking water is the best way to correct or prevent dehydration, to make it more appealing, we can add herbal teas to our diet. These herbal teas can have various health benefits and rejuvenating effects on kidney health. A few examples are:
- Chamomile Tea
- Stinging Tea
- Cinnamon Tea
- Dandelion Root Tea
- Siberian Ginseng Tea
- Astragalus Tea
- Sage Tea
- Rhubarb Tea
- Corn Silk Tea
People who exercise intensely without drinking fluid may enhance the risk of damaging their kidneys.
Some simple points to remember and apply:
- Avoid using OTC painkillers -NSAIDs.
- Avoid Smoking
- Limit your intake of Alcohol
- Avoid coloured sodas/ beverages (Contains high amount of Sugar and Phosphorus)
- Avoid Canned Foods (Contains high amount of salt thus high sodium)
- Avoid Packaged Food (Contains large amount of preservatives)
These are certain ayurvedic remedies for kidney always advised to promote kidney health. It is suggested to please consult your physician before applying any of it.