# High Creatinine

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/high-creatinine/2664>\
**Category:** Medical Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [July 16, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/high-creatinine/2664 "2018-07-16T01:40:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kddavis78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kddavis78](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/kddavis78)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/high-creatinine/2664/1 "2018-07-16T01:40:10Z")

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Hello,  
I’m male, 40 years old, 6’ tall, 200 lbs and have been barbell training for about 2 years. I had my annual checkup at the VA last week, and my creatinine was high (1.36 mg/dL). Last year it was 1.26 and apparently the reference range is 0.6-1.3. I have no history of high creatinine levels or any kidney issues. My doctor wants me to half my creatine intake (I currently take 5 mg per day) and come back to retest in a few weeks. My question is, would it be poor form for me to send her your “Dietary creatine supplements raise serum creatinine mimicking acute kidney injury” study? I read it when it came out last year, so I’m not at all worried about my creatine intake. I just think it might help her out in case she runs into this a lot. But I also figure that doctors probably hate patients sending them “look what I found on the internet” things, even though this one is legit. Anyway, thanks for all of the content. It really does help.

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**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/high-creatinine/2664/2 "2018-07-17T14:08:06Z")

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Hi there,

I think that even if you sent that paper, she’d still want you to re-test off the creatine to be sure. In practice, we see true chronic kidney disease due to issues like hypertension and diabetes far more frequently than a falsely elevated Cr due to someone being too jacked.

It’s pretty common to have a Cr in that range for people who are well-muscled, to no real ill effect. (Jordan and I both have Cr levels between 1.3 and 1.4, which, as you noted, is above the reference range in most labs). However, it’s also a useful marker for kidney function, so we do tend to keep an eye on it. I don’t view a change from 1.26 to 1.36 for someone in your situation to be an especially concerning one, as this value can fluctuate frequently.

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**Author:** ![t\_angeiras](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/t_angeiras/32/5445_2.png) [@t\_angeiras](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/t_angeiras)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/high-creatinine/2664/3 "2018-07-17T15:38:44Z")

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Is this marker affected significantly by creatine intake, or just jackitude? In other words, would it decrease a lot, some days or weeks after stop taking it?

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**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/high-creatinine/2664/4 "2018-07-17T15:43:19Z")

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It’s affected by a lot of things, including, potentially, creatine intake - which is what the article referenced in the OP discusses.