Creatinine is a normal waste product that the body produces every day. High levels in the urine can indicate kidney problems, high muscle tone, or… READ MORE People in the early stages of Parkinson's diseasemay see a benefit from taking creatine. In a study of 20 Parkinson's patients, people who were taking creatine supplements made better gains over 24 sessions of an upper-body strength conditioning program compared with people who took a placebo, according to the 2007 paper published in the journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. Other preliminary studies showed creatine supplements slightly improved mood in Parkinson's patients, and may slow progression of the disease in early stages. Some health conditions can also damage these organs, leading to increased creatinine levels. These conditions include: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allow the use of creatine, and it is widely used among professional athletes. In the past, the NCAA allowed member schools and colleges to provide creatine to students with school funds, but this is no longer permitted. I wouldn’t recommend doing anything that would show minimal improvement and possible risk," says Jim King, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Weigh the negatives and the benefits before you try it."

Another popular study often cited in the media reported kidney disease in a male weightlifter who supplemented with creatine ( 20). High blood pressure measurements show that the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is too high.Creatine has been used for more than a century, and hundreds of studies support its safety and effectiveness. But this single case study is insufficient evidence. Numerous other factors, including additional supplements, were also involved ( 20). The best creatine you can buy in 2023 1. Optimum Nutrition Micronised Creatine Powder: Best micronised creatine powder to drink easily You may also wish to avoid creatine supplements if you take any medications that affect liver or kidney function. Nair, S., et al . (2014). Effect of a cooked meat meal on serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate in diabetes-related kidney disease.

You’ll know the powder is of poor quality if it’s hard to dissolve and there’s residue at the bottom of your glass after you drink it. You want the powder in your muscles, not in the glass. If this happens, try a different brand. Creatine is an amino acid,’ explains head of product at Crazy Nutrition, James Aitken. ‘It’s a naturally occurring compound found in small amounts in animal products such as meat and fish. The body also naturally produces creatine in the liver, kidneys and pancreas. Creatine is used in the production and storage of energy in muscle cells.’ Xiao, Y., Luo, M., Luo, H., & Wang J. (2014, June). Creatine for Parkinson's disease. Cochrane. 17;(6):CD009646 Likewise, if the increased creatinine levels are due to high blood pressure, taking medication to treat this should also lower creatinine levels. Creatine can supply energy to parts of the body where it is needed. Athletes use supplements to increase energy production, improve athletic performance, and to allow them to train harder.There are claims for a number of uses, some of which are supported by research evidence. Improving athletic performance To be safe, he recommends using creatine only if you are healthy and have no kidney problems. That’s because your kidneys excrete creatinine, a breakdown product of creatine. One study examined 69 health markers after participants took creatine supplements for 21 months. It found no adverse effects ( 3). Lupus, Goodpasture’s syndrome, and infections can cause glomerulonephritis, which can lead to kidney damage and failure. DHT is a metabolite of testosterone, formed when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts free testosterone to DHT [ 63]. In males, DHT can bind to androgen receptors in susceptible hair follicles and cause them to shrink, ultimately leading to hair loss [ 64]. However, in the van der Merwe et al. [ 61] study, no increase in total testosterone was found in the 16 males who completed the study. Free testosterone was not measured. Moreover, the increase in DHT and the DHT: testosterone ratio remained well within normal clinical limits. Furthermore, baseline (prior to supplementation), DHT was 23% lower in the creatine group (0.98 nmol/L) compared to the placebo group (1.26 nmol/L). Thus the small increase in DHT in the creatine group (+ 0.55 nmol/L after 7 days of supplementation and + 0.40 nmol/L after 21 days of supplementation), in combination with a small decrease in the placebo DHT response (-0.17 nmol/L after 7 days of supplementation and -0.20 nmol/L after 21 days of supplementation) explains the “statistically significant” increase in DHT noted by van der Merwe et al. [ 61]. While it is possible that creatine supplementation upregulated 5-alpha-reductase activity in these males (potentially leading to increased formation of DHT), no study has reported hair loss/baldness in humans.

The idea is that creatine allows the body to produce more energy. With more energy, athletes can work harder and achieve more. Atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, and other conditions that affect the heart can also affect kidney function. Creatine has different effects on every individual. Some people just don’t respond to creatine—it’s a genetic thing.Key specs – Creatine type: Micronised creatine monohydrate; Purity: Not specified; Serving size: 3g (1g per tablet) Outside of kidney function, several other factors can temporarily raise creatinine levels above normal. These include pregnancy, dehydration, and consuming large amounts of protein — either through food sources or nutritional supplements.