Creatinine in blood test

Patto

I had an interesting discussion with my GP yesterday about creatine.

I did a blood test a year and a half ago when I was taking creatine. My blood creatinine levels came back high at the time. I suppose this is not surprising I was taking creatine, I was 15 or 16 stone and about 14% BF at the time (i.e. I had a fair bit of lean muscle mass). Creatinine blood levels are higher in men and higher again the more lean muscle you have.

Did another test last week, haven't taken a creatine supplement for over 6 months, now weigh 14 stone at 10% BF. My levels are still outside the test limits. I think the limits are like 50-106 and I came in at 108. My levels were down on the previous test but I was still surprised how high they are. My GP was about as concerned as he was about my BMI ranking me as slightly overweight (you'd need to meet me in person to fully appreciate the irony):rolleyes:

When I spoke to him about the type of diet I follow, low GI, good fats, bad fats, protein supplements etc. He said that the diet I follow is a little outside the one generally recommended by GPs but he didn't have any issue with what I was doing. He did say nutrition wasn't his area of expertise and that he would refer me to a nutritionalist if I really wanted to pursue it further. I declined of course, I already have a very good Nutrition teacher (aka: the guy from the last word:D ). Sound advise I thought.

Been doing a bit of googling on creatinine blood tests just out of curiosity really. Anyone else had these tests and noticed any effect of bulking up, taking creatine supplements etc?

I think it comes down to 3 things: 1. Either I have a slightly inefficent liver that cannot filter creatine very well, 2. I still have a high level of creatine in my system from supplementing over 6 months ago or 3. Thats just my norm, my muscles carry a lot of creatine naturally.

Maybe its a combination of all 3. Still I think its worth getting this test done, its a standard blood test reading, if you are (considering) supplementing creatine.

Dragan

I have never had it mentioned to me and i get my bloods done twice yearly. And i have been taking creatine for time now?

I think you might be spot on with points 1 and 3 to be honest.

JayRoc

Also sounds like you've a GP with a little bit of common sense.
Congrats.

t-ha

Patto wrote:

Where did I say to get a test done twice yearly?

I think Dragan was saying that he gets bloods done twice a year.

I've had tests done while on & off creatine and have never been outside the normal range for creatanine. I'd say there's probably individual physiological reasons involved.

Patto wrote:

Ps. Bi annual is once every two years:-)

True, though it can also mean twice in one year AFAIK.

JayRoc

Patto wrote:

Where did I say to get a test done twice yearly?

The first test I did was July 2005, the second March 2007, thats nearly two years apart and there was only a slight change.

I think I get your point though, I don't see any reason to over analysise it. Its just a curiosity really. That said I would generally consider it advisable for general health reasons to get annual or bi annual blood tests.

Ps. Bi annual is once every two years:-)

Ehhh... ?

g'em

JayRoc wrote:

Ehhh... ?

lol, that's what I thought!!

Patto biannual means twice every year. Biennial means once every two years.

Dragan

I was basically saying that i get my test done very often, plus i take a lot of creatine and have never had anything come up, adding some weight to the logic behind point 1 and 3 that you had made?

JayRoc

g'em wrote:

lol, that's what I thought!!

Patto biannual means twice every year. Biennial means once every two years.

Actually I just meant that to describe the whole post, really- it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me given what Dragan had written, but maybe that's just me.

Patto

JayRoc wrote:

Actually I just meant that to describe the whole post, really- it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me given what Dragan had written, but maybe that's just me.

Sorry Guys! I misread "mentioned to me and i" as something else, just ignore the second post. Your point was well made Dragan, I needed have replied in any case:o

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Dragan

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Excellent article on all you need to know here!

Hanley

Elevated Creatine or Creatinine levels?

AFAIK they normally take 8 weeks to return to normal after you stop supplementing.

Do you eat a lof of fish and red meat?

Patto

Hanley wrote:

Elevated Creatine or Creatinine levels?

Creatinine levels. Which if my google search is correct is the Creatinine levels in your blood after your liver and kidneys have done their job filtering and breaking down the creatine in your system.

Hanley wrote:

AFAIK they normally take 8 weeks to return to normal after you stop supplementing.

That would be my gauge on it as well, based on the weight I but on and lose again when I go on and off the stuff.

Hanley wrote:

Do you eat a lof of fish and red meat?

No, my main protein sources are Chicken mostly then ON Whey, eggs, Tuna and other fish, and red meat in pretty much equal measure. I've started introducing a lot more pulses into my diet recently as well.

BTW (generally) you have to fast before blood tests (if you want accurate LDL and HDLs) so it wasn't like anything I eat in the previous 12 hours could influence the test.

I was going to list a few pulses but chickened out for fear of being corrected again:p

G'em feel free to mop up any biological or language errors:)

g'em

Patto wrote:

G'em feel free to mop up any biological or language errors:)

I'm a nice person really...

Leon11

Abit of a noob regarding blood tests (use to have to do em all day for once a month between 9-13 because I was freakishly tall for my age and my weight:D) anyway what would it cost to get it done without factoring in referal GP costs etc? I'd be interested so as to know any deficiencies that I may have.

mloc

I regularly do a quick urine analysis using labstrips, every week or so. It is by no means a replacement for a blood check, but measures the levels of blood, ketones, bilirubin, protein, glucose and also pH in a urine sample. It can be useful in flagging potential kidney problems.

justsomebloke

By any chance did you get the same blood work done before starting creatine so you would have a fair idea of what your baseline level would actually be