Creatinine levels in urine

Creatinine is nothing more than a waste material our body is supposed to expel, along with many other toxins. However, if our blood tests show abnormal creatinine values, this indicates that something is not right regarding our health. In order to learn what creatinine is and how to perceive its presence in your organism, read on.

Definition of Creatinine

Creatinine was derived from a Greek word “kreas”, meaning “flesh”. Once creatine is broken down to different elements in our organisms, creatinine is created. Speaking of creatine, this substance is a crucial part of our muscles, which is created once our body transforms the food we consume into the energy we use for physical processes. Creatine creation is not influenced by our nutrition significantly, nor by our physical activities. However, creatinine is usually not absorbed by our body. Rather, our kidneys are likely to filter it and expel it. Whenever this does not happen and we have high levels of creatinine in our organism, we are likely to suffer from certain kidney problems. Creatinine levels are measured through blood or urine analysis.

Creatinine in Human Urine

As far as the diagnosis procedure is concerned, urine is analyzed for creatinine levels. Thus, if you have lower levels of creatinine in your urine, you have higher levels of this substance in your blood and vice-versa. Either way, abnormalities are a sign of a possible kidney infection or disease.

In order for urine levels, regarding creatinine, to be considered normal, they need to match 90 to 140 milliliters per minute or 1.78 to 2.32 milliliters per second for males. For adult females, these optimal levels range from 80 to 107 milliliters per minute or 1.45 to 1.78 mililiters per second.

As people grow older, these values decrease for about 6.5 milliliters per minute every 10 years, after a person is older than 20.

Abnormalities in Creatinine Levels

If the creatinine in urine is abnormally high, this may be caused by excessive physical activity, injury of the muscles, pregnancy, burns or carbon monoxide poisoning. Hypothyroidism can also be behind this. However, dehydration, fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath and some other, similar, signs may indicate high creatinine levels in your urine.

On the other hand, having low creatinine levels on your urine indicates that these are high in your blood. This is usually a sign of kidney damage. Cancer, traumas, serious infections, low blood circulation into the kidneys or blockage of the urinary tract, all can be behind these results.

If you desire to raise your creatinine levels in the urine before a drug test, avoid using certain products which claim to grant you this possibility. Rather, avoid alcohol consumption and exercise intensively before the test.

Nevertheless, every time your urine tests show abnormalities in creatinine levels, seek medical assistance and professional opinions, treating any problems which may be responsible for it.